Karakura Town. I remember this place. It was my home once. As we exited the portal, I looked out at the low rooves of the residential area, the concrete towers, and the river with its bright green grassy banks.
Walking through the streets, I wondered if my apartment had been sold. My life used to revolve around grades, money, economy… now? My life was so much simpler. But I had nothing.
I rounded the corner and sat down at a park bench. I wondered what had happened to Mist… Harribel. It was just Harribel now, wasn't it? Scratching the back of my head, I also pondered the fates of Mila Rose, Sung-Sun, Apacci… and Menoly.
"But what happened to the Espada?" I wondered aloud "All I know is that Szayelapporo is dead. What happened to the others? Heh. I guess I'll never know."
It was at that moment that I felt something. Not like the huge weights dumped down on you like an ocean. But it was more like a faint, yet distinct pulse. A distress signal. Leaping up, I Sonidoed up to the rooftops of Karakura Town, running for my destination. Alleys, streets and walkways passed by in flashes as I felt the pulse become stronger. Finally, I found what I was looking for.
A small and smelly alley, barely noticeable to casual passers-by. Darkened by the high buildings surrounding it, scraps of cardboard and refuse were littering the ground. Inside that alley, broken and bloody, were four bodies. Leaping down from the rooftops, I recognised the bodies instantly. How couldn't I? Apacci, Mila Rose, Sung-Sun and Harribel were all lying on the ground in various positions, barely a whisper coming from all of them.
But they were still alive.
I had to act fast. I didn't know how long they'd last in their condition. Picking up the body of Harribel, I walked to the front of the alley, only to be blocked off by a short woman with black hair.
"What do you think you're doing?" she barked "Where are you going with those corpses?"
"They're not corpses! They're still alive!" I shouted in return. The woman just nodded and drew her sword.
"If that's the case, I will gladly remedy that."
She swung at the woman in my arms, but I quickly Sonidoed behind her "What the hell?! Don't you have any idea of mercy?"
"That technique… Impossible! You're a human!" she muttered before shouting once more "They're hollows you idiot! What good is mercy on monsters?"
"This 'monster' saved my life once!" I shouted "Now I'm returning the favour, and I'm not about to let you, or anyone else stop me!"
The woman seemed to falter for a moment, as if remembering something important. As her hard expression turned to one of sad nostalgia, she sheathed her sword "Fine. Go ahead and save them. I won't stop you."
"What? Just like that?" I asked
She didn't respond. Instead she disappeared, leaving an empty void of silence in her wake.
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
I had found my old apartment empty, like always. Laying out my spare three futons in my room, I carefully placed the bodies of the four wounded Arrancars down. Walking into my room, I was glad that none of my books had been removed. I skimmed across the shelf, searching for my dictionary of medicine. Flipping it open, I looked for the chapter relating to 'grievous injuries caused by supernatural beings'. Not finding anything, I looked instead for the basic first aid section.
"I wish I could take them to an actual hospital." I muttered bandaging up Sung-Sun's still heavily bleeding arm "They might have a better chance there."
Deciding that I had done all that I could, I stepped carefully over to the cupboard and dumped my bag of clothing in. I'd had enough white for one lifetime. Dressing in a grey hoodie and loose blue jeans, I left my room and fell heavily onto the couch.
"I had forgotten how good this couch feels." I muttered to myself, burying my face in a cushion. Flicking on the TV, I fell quickly back into my old routine and started watching the news.
"Thank you Samantha." said the news reporter "In other news, strange phenomenon has been occurring all over Karakura Town, as residents appear to be suffering from Mass Spontaneous Sleep Disorder, or Karakura Syndrome. Witnesses report that large groups of people would suddenly fall unconscious, often seconds before they themselves fell unconscious as well. An estim-"
Flicking off the TV, I yawned loudly. I had no idea how long I'd been awake for. I couldn't fight the weight of my eyelids anymore as I fell into a dreamless sleep.
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
I awoke, expecting the loud banging of a foot on the trapdoor. Nothing. Sitting up, I found myself still in the living room.
"Well, at least it wasn't a dream." I said, getting up from the couch and stretching my tired muscles
I walked over to the kitchen and poured myself a bowl of cereal. As I crunched on the slightly soggy cornflakes, I remembered my four patients! Standing up, I quietly opened the bedroom door.
They were all gone.
I looked around, thinking they might be doing something while I was asleep. Their futons were still out, so they couldn't have left. Unless they left in a hurry. Then I noticed a note taped to the door. Tearing it off, I opened it up and read it.
"The patients have been moved to the Kurosaki Clinic for professional healthcare. Any concerns must be expressed to Dr Isshin Kurosaki."
"The Kurosaki Clinic? That's only a few blocks away…" I said to myself, folding the paper and sliding it into my pocket "I have to go see them."
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
A bell chimed as I entered the small clinic. A young girl with blonde hair appeared from behind the desk.
"Welcome to the Kurosaki Clinic!" she said in a cheery voice "Is there anything we can do for you?"
"I'm looking Isshin Kurosaki. Is he in?"
"Let me go get him!" she said "Dad! There's someone who wants to see you!"
"Coming Yuzu!" came a shout from inside the clinic. A man who looked about thirty years old stepped out from a nearby doorway. Seeing me, his expression immediately turned dour "Oh. It's you. Follow me."
Nodding, I followed the man through the doorway into a sealed off room. Opening the door, I saw the man in the green bucket hat standing close to four beds, an Arrancar resting in each one of them.
"Ah… So this is why you wanted that favour." Kisuke said, glancing over to me "I still say that it'd be easier to send them to the Soul Society."
"Arrancars aren't like normal hollows, Kisuke." The man said "So it'd be unfair to force them. We have to let them choose."
The man in green was about to reply when a small groan could be heard from one of the beds. Rushing over, I saw Harribel groan and fidget under the covers, eyes screwed shut, as if having some horrible dream.
"She's alright." I sighed "She's alright…"
"So Sivir." Kisuke began "You promised to explain everything once we got back to the World of the Living. And here we are. So why don't you fill us in?"
I sighed inwardly, knowing I couldn't put it off any longer. "Where should I start?"
*v*v*v*
*v*v*v*
"Well then." Kisuke said, tipping his hat back "that was certainly an interesting story."
I nodded glumly, not taking my eyes off the sleeping Harribel.
"But the question remains. Why exactly did she save you?" Kisuke asked
"I think I already know the answer." I said
"Hmm?"
"To help me survive. To help me get away from a place I didn't belong. To let me live." I mumbled, staring at Harribel again "I just hope I'll be able to return the favour."
"Don't you worry Sivir. My medicine skills are top of the line!" Isshin grinned, flashing a quick thumbs up
"But why are you helping them?"
"I'm a doctor. I take care of patients no matter who they are." Isshin said, glancing over his patients "A life is a life. No matter whom it belongs to."
"Thank you. But there's another problem. Everyone thinks I'm dead. My apartment is probably going to be emptied and rented out sooner or later, and there's no way I can get money anymore since I have no identity papers, and I have no idea how to start my life again!"
"We're way ahead of you there." Kisuke said with a small smile "Your apartment isn't in danger of getting rented out again anytime soon. As for making money, you could always work for me!"
"Work? What kind?"
"Oh, a little bit of hard labour, some cleaning, stocktake, oh and of course killing hollows." He said, counting off on his fingers.
"Killing hollows? Don't the Soul Reapers do that already?" I asked
"Yes, but to be perfectly honest, they could use all the help they can get. Ever since Ichigo… You know…"
I thought for a moment, before eventually deciding that it was the best thing to do.
"I'm in."