Part Two "Lighting the dark."
Serai sat against a damp wall crying in the early morning hours. The only place she could find that was not violent was a filthy alley. She was told that her best friend would be waiting for her and that she would not have to be alone any more. The man in black had lied. Now, things were worse than anything she ever remembered in the other world. "Duchira where are you?" She wailed to a world that just did not care. It wasn't surprising when no one answered.
The shadows around her began to grow darker and deeper. Serai didn't seem to notice until her thoughts were interrupted by a whisper.
"Poor, child, so sad, so lonely. Come with me." The voice was slightly ominous sounding. At this point, Serai was so lonely that any voice that recognized her existence was welcome.
She looked up and wiped away her tears with the back of her hand. She found a thin boy standing before her. He was slightly older than her 12 years and had a genuine look of concern on his face. He was wearing a strange white robe and had a funny looking mask covering one side of his head. On the other side, black hair stood out in a very unkempt hair cut.
He held out his hand to the girl. "It is sad for one as pretty as you to be sitting here alone. I will be happy to be your friend." His voice sounded candy sweet.
"Do you know Duchira?" Serai asked looking up at the boy hopefully.
A melodic voice answered from above them. "Don't count on it, little one."
Suddenly, the alley that Serai was sitting in was filled with a warm, unseen light that coated everything in an inviting and comfortable glow. It seemed to be coming from the same direction as the new voice. The figure looked a lot like the man in black that sent her here, yet somehow different. The figure had a hood covering their face, so Serai could not see it. All Serai knew for certain was the glow coming from that person, and it was warm and inviting.
Serai turned back to the boy to tell him that she wanted to stay here where the light was warm, but her voice was trapped in a scream. He had changed somehow. It was not a difference in appearance, but something dark had swallowed him and it felt like it was about to consume her too.
"How dare you interrupt an Arrancar on a mission for lord Aizen!" the boy looked up at Rayna just before he charged her. Jumping down toward the boy Rayna mounted her own attack. The two met mid air as the tip of his blade was stopped by the flat of her Zanpakato. Rayna parried and stabbed at his midsection. The Arrancar was quick, and moved out of the path of Shaditsukaya before it struck. He seemed to stop momentarily. Stepping back before he attacked Rayna several more times. With years of training, she was able to block his offensive movements. Although, she was unable to mount any offensive moves of her own. Rayna just did not have her usual strength to call upon. She was still extremely tired from her earlier training and certain she could not win in this current state. Not without releasing an incredible amount of Reiatsu. That would bring unwanted attention.
It was time to bluff. "Silly slave to lord Aizen, you hid your spiritual pressure well but not well enough. I am only the first to arrive. There will be others coming, so unless you want to meet the Zanpakato of several Shinigami you best return to your master." She was playing a very dangerous game and she knew it. The redhead charged her Zanpakato with more spiritual pressure. As a result, the unseen light in the alley grew in its power and strength. The boy raised his hand in defense against her Reiatsu. He disappeared. Rayna thought his reaction strange, but did not dwell on it. Her flare of power would draw others.
Suddenly, the Arrancar was behind her. Barely mounting a defense, she raised her sword, blocking the attack from his Zanpakato. The strike reverberated along the sword and sent pain through her limbs. Her options were becoming fewer as the battle continued. Turning to attack him with her own Zanpakato, she realized he had gone. Relief spread through her. Even the lingering element of his miserable soul was gone too.
Rayna carefully approached the girl, removing her hood and holding out a strong hand to the child.
"I believe that I know where you can find what you have lost, little one. If you come with me, I can tell you it will not be easy. There will be a lot expected of you, but you will never be lonely and you will be happy."
The girl looked up at Rayna half expecting this to be another trick. Then she felt the welcoming and inviting warmth of the woman holding out a hand to her. Though she still felt hopeless, Serai went with the woman because she did not want to leave the strange presence she felt.
A distance away, the Captain of the 6th court guard ordered his men to halt. "I don't feel the pressure any longer. Whatever it was, it is gone now."
"Captain, shouldn't we go investigate the area?" Lt. Abarai asked.
"Yes, take four men. Report back to me when you are done." He looked in the direction of the Reiatsu. There had been several spiritual pressures here tonight. Some menacing, some almost untraceable, and then there was one that was familiar. Without a word he was gone in a flash.
Captain Kuchiki arrived at the spot where Lady Yoruichi had been training earlier with Rayna. He sensed that she had been heightened to a battle state. What he could not tell was what brought on the battle and who was the opponent was. It definitely was not a Hallow or any other creature from Hueco Mundo. However, there was a fight here. With furrowed brows, Byakuya walked back and forth covering the ground trying to get a better sense of what took place.
The Captain stopped suddenly. He was not sure what it was he felt at first. It was barely there. Like the fragrance of a flower that had been carried over a long distance. The Reiatsu he sensed was a very strange indeed. Unfortunately, it was gone before he could get a full sense of the energy. Classifying it was out of the question. He was certain of one thing, Lady Yoruichi knew who or what it was. Dark eyes flashed in fury. His former teacher knew it was her duty to report things like this. Turning on his heel, Captain Kuchiki flash stepped back to his squad.
Rayna was beyond tired by the time she finally passed over the threshold to her shabby home. All she could think about was getting to bed, but there were things to settle first. She carefully crept into Duchira's room and woke her with a gentle squeeze. The girl rolled over half asleep, barely opening her eyes.
"Is it time for chores already?"
"Duchira wake up. I found something for you while I was out." This got the girls attention and she sat up sleep forgotten.
"Really?" Fully awake and unaware that she was waking others up, she reached up and hugged Rayna. Duchira knew it was finally her turn.
"Shsh, we don't want to wake the others. Grab an extra set of clothes and wake Binta. I think an early breakfast would be a great idea." The girl was up and hopping about before Rayna was finished giving instructions. She had more to say, but she knew the girl was not listening in her excitement. If Duchira remembered to wake Binta for breakfast, Rayna would count herself lucky.
Serai sat in the dark room. The girl had lost all hope and the sadness that surrounded her made it hard for Rayna to control her own Reiatsu. The tainted spirit energy that rolled off the girl was as poisonous as the Arrancar they encountered earlier. Rayna entered the room quietly. She sat next to the girl not saying a word at first, just putting her hand over the girl's hand.
"Have faith, even in a vast emptiness the heart can make its own light that will warm the coldest of sorrows." Rayna said in a soft quiet voice. The girl squeezed her hand in response. Rayna wrapped her arms around the hopeless girl and let her Reiatsu surround the two of them. The unseen glow from it covered Serai with something she had never felt before. It was as if someone had lit a light of pure joy inside her.
Duchira entered the living area and was welcomed by the warmth in the room. When she saw who Rayna was holding, she ran over without hesitation and wrapped her arms around both of them.
Serai looked up and recognized her best friend.
"Duchira?" The joy of finally finding one another only fed into Raynas Reiatsu and the resounding warmth from it was felt by everyone in the house.
A cough made Rayna aware that her Reiatsu was reaching dangerous levels. Yarinju was right. She needed to resume control of herself. The two in her arms now had whole hearts and could be left alone without fear of resentment. Carefully unwrapped herself from the two girls, she brought her spiritual pressure under tight control. Standing up, she brushed her hands off and turned toward Yarinju with a smile.
"Hopefully Binta is awake, I am a little hungry this morning." It felt good when she was able to heal another's' heart.
"I am afraid the whole house is awake." Yarinju could not help but to smile as well. "It won't be long before the rest come down to meet the new member of the family." His face became grimmer. "You need to be more careful. I don't think your Reiatsu went beyond this house, but if it had you would have attracted all kinds of unwelcome attention. You must try harder."
Rayna started mimicking his movements and face as his back was turned. Knowing this, he spun on her. "It is not a joke, Rayna. You sorely lack self control. You are not ready to defend yourself from what is out there. I am not certain what took place tonight, but will you ever stop risking a life that others are desperately trying to protect?" The mischievousness left her and she cast her eyes down in defeat.
"Apologies, Yarinju. I am tired. Tell Binta to save me some breakfast I will eat it later." With the exuberance of a deflated balloon, Rayna headed back to her room to finally get some sleep.
Yarinju felt terrible. He had not meant to hurt her feelings. But she took unnecessary chances with her life. Rayna had to learn not to fall victim to the call of a broken soul. The noble Lady had to learn to keep Reiatsu under control at all times. That included being drawn from safety by a suffering spirit.
Now, it was time to go to work, cleaning up the mess that she inevitably left behind. The woman could be taxing at times with her penchant for trouble. Yarinju needed to find out where she had been. Using a flash step, he fallowed the path of her Reiatsu through the slums. When he got to the alley were she had fought, he did not like what he felt.
Two figures dressed in white sat on the rooftop of the next house over. They were quite pleased with themselves and their discovery. The black haired boy looked at the man next to him and said "I told you it was different."
Grimmjow looked at the boy with a smile. "Yes Saezu, it is. It's not very strong and it doesn't last long. I am not sure lord Aizen will be interested but, if it gets stronger it might be worth mentioning." With a flash the two left, unnoticed by the souls below.
I know I rated this mature so I am sure that some are looking for mature content. That will come later on.. I only put that rating up because there was not the option to rate the content by chapter.. I am thinking I may change the rating and then place the extra content somewhere else.. As always Bleach belongs to Tite Kubo not me… I just like to play in his world..