Chapter 6: Empathy and Exercises
Kuchiki Rukia had had a terrible day. Walking through the dusty streets of Rukongai's forty-first district, Rukia was nearly dragging her feet with exhaustion. But I must not appear improper, she thought tiredly, straightening as best she could, I cannot dishonor the Kuchiki name.
Her spirits soon lifted though, as her hotel came into view. Because of the protracted nature of her assignment, and the fact that the forty-first district was almost on the exact opposite side of Soul Society that her division was, Rukia had been staying in a modestly priced room in one of the least flea infested inns in the area. It wasn't the lack of fleas that attracted the raven-haired shinigami to Hotel Senzo, but rather the company. The Senzo family, who owned and operated the hotel and tavern, were friendly and did not treat Rukia like she was royalty, despite knowing her identity.
Entering the eatery below the lodgings, Rukia smiled in relief. The atmosphere was cozy, people talking animatedly with one another and plenty of food and drink to satisfy anyone's hunger. Sitting down at the nearest available table, Rukia could have sworn her feet sighed in gratitude. Laying her head down, Rukia was content to merely listen to the many conversations bubbling around her.
"Rukia-chan!"
Rukia started, sitting up sharply, "H-Haruka-san! You should not sneak up on me like that…"
"Gomen, but I thought you might be asleep," the blonde waitress and owner's daughter replied, sitting down across from Rukia, "So how was your patrol today?"
"Bad," Rukia squeezed her eyes shut, resting her chin in her hand, "I had to break up four bar fights today, as well as catch several thieves and stop two minor gangs from killing each other."
"Oh no!" Haruka frowned pityingly, patting Rukia's outstretched hand, "Well did you at least get a lead on that orange haired boy you're looking for?"
"No," Rukia said shortly, looking away. She did not want to describe the numerous, and ultimately fruitless, interviews she'd conducted over the course of the day.
"Are you sure he's not some lost love?" the slim serving girl asked, grinning, "It would be sooo romantic…"
"Of course not!" Rukia said tersely, countering, "Don't you have work to do?"
"Nope, I'm on break," Haruka beamed slyly, hoping she'd touched a nerve, "So why are you looking for this guy anyway?"
"Haruka-san, I have had a very long day," Rukia sighed, ignoring the question, "May I please order a meal? I am very hungry!"
"Oh, alright then…" Haruka gave in, giving Rukia a sideways glance, "I'll have Papa whip you up something."
"Arigato," Rukia smiled weakly, leaning back in her chair and rubbing the corners of her eyes, once again letting the sounds of the other patrons lull her into a state of calm.
When her food arrived, Rukia wolfed it down eagerly, while still trying to be as ladylike as possible. The result was that the Senzo family's customers were treated to the sight of a prim and proper shinigami girl with perfect posture and table manners alternatively shoveling food into her mouth and daintily dabbing at her lips. Eventually noticing her audience, Rukia flushed with embarrassment and promptly began eating at a more sedate pace.
Despite the amiable atmosphere, Rukia turned in early that night, due to her exhausting day, and the fact that she wanted to get up early the following morning.
Watching the petite girl go, Haruka frowned. "I worry about her Papa," she said, turning to her father, the withered cook and owner of the hotel.
Senzo Akira, known to most as "Papa" or "Papa Senzo," shook his head at her from his perch on the high stool behind the counter, "I know Daughter, I know. She is proud, from what I've seen, and not as open with her feelings as you are. But it is not our business. Rukia-san is free to confide in whomever she pleases. I would not press her any further."
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The next day, Rukia rose early, as she had the past few days. Sleep did not come as easy to her as it used to. Even so, Rukia had a reason for rising earlier than usual.
Exiting the hotel, she stretched in the semidarkness of predawn. Taking off at a light jog down the hill the inn was situated on; Rukia was surprised that she could still see her breath so far into spring. Checking the time on her soul communicator, Rukia exhaled deeply, readying herself. Forcing reiatsu into her legs, Rukia began increasing her speed until she was travelling at shunpo speed. Flashing across the rooftops of Rukongai, the short shinigami's flickering footsteps set off towards the walls of Seireitei. Because she had no one to spar with, Rukia could not accurately gauge the speed of her shunpo unless she had a destination.
I hope my time is better than yesterday's, Rukia thought as she pushed herself harder, soaring through several districts in little under a minute.
As she neared the west gate, its guardian, the massive Ikkanzaka Jidanbō, came into view. With one last burst, Rukia hurled herself towards the wall composed of sekkiseki, her hand giving it a resounding smack.
Jidanbō looked down at the comparatively pintsized girl, lowering his barrel of morning tea. "Good morning, Rukia-dono," he boomed, sitting down and crossing his legs.
"Good morning…Jidanbō-san," Rukia replied, breathing a little harder than normal.
"How fast were you today? Are you getting better?" the gigantic man asked eagerly, always happy for something to interrupt his constant vigil.
"Let's find out," Rukia said, retrieving her communicator and peering at the time indicated in glowing digital numbers, "Five minutes, fifty-five seconds! That's a whole thirty seconds faster than yesterday!"
"That's good!" Jidanbō exclaimed happily, giving Rukia a light tap on her shoulder that sent her face first into the ground.
Coughing out a few small pebbles that had entered her open mouth, Rukia smiled indulgently up at the enormous gate guardian, "Yes. I only hope I can keep up my pace for the return trip."
"Well be sure to eat a big helping of food when you get there so you can get big and strong like me!" Jidanbō advised, shaking his finger at her.
"I will!" Rukia promised, setting off at a breakneck speed once more. By the time Rukia made it back to Hotel Senzo, the sun was just beginning its own daily ritual; its rays shining through Rukia's dark tresses and nearly blinding her with their intensity.
Skidding to a stop in front of the hostel, she hurriedly confirmed her time for the return trip. "Yatta!" she hissed, nearly bouncing in her suppressed triumph. Rukia entered the hotel, tired, but excited about her progress.
Luckily for her, Papa Senzo was an early riser as well, and was all too willing to serve her an early breakfast. Taking her meal out to the porch that looked out over the rest of the district, Rukia sat and enjoyed her food in the early morning light.
"May I join you, Rukia-san?" the senior Senzo asked, as he hobbled outside.
"Certainly Senzo-san," Rukia responded, scooting over to make room for the crippled man.
Easing himself down with the aid of his crutch, the old man sat, wiping his forehead at the effort involved. "Ahhhh, it's a beautiful morning," he breathed, taking in the view.
"Indeed it is," Rukia agreed, sipping her tea, "Er…Senzo-san? May I ask…how did you…?"
"Lose my leg?" Papa supplied, smiling.
"Yes, but if it is too personal-"
"No, no, it's fine. It was long ago, and I've had plenty of time to get over it. It was eaten by a hollow before konsō was performed on me."
"I'm so sorry…" Rukia murmured, embarrassed that she had pried.
"Don't be. No one imagines that there is life after death. To be think that I was even able to start a family after I'd died, well…a little thing like having one leg ain't nothing to worry about," Senzo mused sagely.
"S-so…you don't…blame the hollow for your leg?" Rukia asked hesitantly, staring unseeingly at the magnificent view.
"No," Senzo answered simply, "It was just some lost, unhappy soul. It's not as though it personally took my leg for a reason. Why do you ask?"
"No reason!" Rukia said far too quickly.
"I see…" the aged hotel owner muttered, "I don't suppose it has anything to do with this person you're looking for?"
"No!" Rukia denied immediately, finishing off the remains of her meal, "Why would you say that?"
"Because you have guilt in your eyes."
Looking up sharply, Rukia opened her mouth to contradict him, but Papa held up his hand, saying, "Whatever it is you did, it can be forgiven."
"But… but I…failed him…in the worst possible way…" Rukia whispered, looking away to hide her face, which despite her efforts was soon moist with tears.
"Then if you cannot make it up to him, apologize. Everyone gets a second chance."
"That's just it Senzo-san…I don't think I'll get a second chance…" Rukia said miserably, her face in her hands.
"Rukia-san," Papa spoke soothingly, "You are a shinigami, are you not? You cleanse the spirits of hollows, who are by all accounts despicable monsters. Now, you must learn how to cleanse your own spirit."
Looking up at him with tearstained eyes, Rukia smiled despite herself. "Arigato, Senzo-san."
"Hm? What for? Making you listen to the ramblings of an old man?" Papa grinned back.
"For reminding me that there is still some good in Rukongai," Rukia said, looking out over the slowly awakening forty-first district.
"Indeed there is," Senzo agreed.
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Urahara Kisuke smiled at his young opponent, taking in his rough stance, "Good. I'd hate to have your zanpakutō break before you've even fought a hollow. Now, I'll obviously have to go a bit easy on you-"
"Why would you hold back?" Ichigo wondered confidently, swinging his sword idly, examining the red tassel on the end of the handle. Shaking his head, Urahara suddenly disappeared from Ichigo's view. Huh? Where'd he go?!
Feeling a tap on his shoulder, Ichigo whirled around, lashing out with his zanpakutō.
"That's why," Urahara said smugly, blocking Ichigo's wild strike with ease, "The majority of captain-level shinigami are capable of utilizing a method to increase the speed of their movements called shunpo. It would be pointless for your feet to move quickly, unless your zanpakutō can move quickly as well. Besides, most of the hollows you will encounter will not be capable of moving at the speeds I can. Now, attack me please."
Grinning savagely, Ichigo leapt forward swing his sword every which way he could, trying to get past Urahara's cane-handled blade. No matter what he tried though, nothing seemed to work.
"So, you're wielding your zanpakutō one handed, eh?" Urahara commented, as he evaded yet another strike and rapped Ichigo on the head with the flat of his blade, "That's a brave choice, considering the size of your weapon…I would think you'd use both hands, since that tends to make your hits stronger. Haven't you taken kendo class?"
Growling in annoyance, Ichigo lashed out again, while also sweeping his leg forward in an attempt to trip up his opponent's footing. However, Urahara captured his outstretched foot between his own legs. Using his momentum, the shinigami turned businessman did a handstand, swinging around and releasing Ichigo's captured leg, sending him flying into the nearest rock face.
His eyes glittering, Urahara called out, "Improvisation! Very good, Kurosaki-san! You have recognized that your zanpakutō is not a shinigami's only weapon."
"Tch!" Ichigo scoffed, as he dusted himself off, "Don't give me that "improvisation" crap! Every sensei in the movies always says that!"
"Aha! And who do you think said it to them?" Urahara countered, wagging his finger.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ichigo asked, charging him once again.
"It means…" Urahara said, as he appeared next to Ichigo, "that I am much older than any sensei from the movies…"
Parrying his teacher's attack and locking blades with him, Ichigo couldn't help but laugh. "Ha! That explains why you dress so weird…"
"Oh, you'll hurt my feelings Kurosaki-san…" Urahara pouted, shoving Ichigo away before dashing after him.
I can't figure out where he's going to come from! Ichigo worried, as he watched Urahara zigzag back and forth on his approach. Struck by a sudden thought, Ichigo rolled to the side, slicing out at his opponent's legs.
"Good!" Urahara commended, blocking Ichigo's low stab with ease and kicking him away with his geta-covered foot, "Your best option there was to come to me, instead of trying to figure out where I would come from. You are learning quickly! What say we end today's lesson…when you can knock this hat of mine from my head, hm?"
"Heh," Ichigo grinned cockily, "Fine by me! But I don't blame me when you're looking up at your body afterwards!"
"Still so confident?" Urahara whistled, raising his eyebrow, "Let's see how bold you are..."
"Okiro, Benihime," he recited, holding up his zanpakutō.
At the blonde man's utterance, the sword was surrounded by a reddish glow, solidifying into a wider blade; its tip slanting back. The hilt had also changed, thickening and gaining a crimson ribbon and other decorations, as well as retaining its curved shape somewhat.
"Uh…" Ichigo said uneasily, his eyes widening, "What…did you do?"
"This is my zanpakutō's true form," Urahara explained, running his hand down its side, "To discover the name of one's zanpakutō is one of the first obstacles a shinigami must overcome to become stronger. It'll be a while for you yet, though."
That guy in the coat! Could he be my zanpakuto? Ichigo wondered, Why couldn't I hear his name?
"I just hope you can last more than five minutes now," Urahara continued, his eyes twinkling mischievously, as he raised the sword above his head, "Nake, Benihime!"
Upon its descent, Benihime emitted a dark red sphere of energy. His eyes widening in alarm, Ichigo dove out of the way as the orb struck the spot he'd just been standing, creating a large crater.
Kuso! He thought, terror and adrenaline keeping him on the move, as Urahara continued lobbing the red spheres at him, I can't keep my distance; I've got to get in close!
Rushing his seemingly unstoppable adversary, Ichigo's eyes widened as Urahara once again spoke, "Nake, Benihime!"
Shutting his eyes for the inevitable pain, as his sword continued its forward momentum; Ichigo was surprised when it struck something solid. Not only that, but he wasn't missing any limbs and did not seem to be injured. Opening his eyes, Ichigo found that his blade had been stopped by a thick transparent shield, the same color as Benihime's energy discharges.
From behind it, Urahara grinned impishly at him, "Oh dear! Did I fool you? The command phrase for Benihime's attack and defense abilities is the same. I hope you didn't worry overmuch…"
Dispelling the barrier, Urahara battered away at his orange haired pupil, apparently oblivious to the boy's rising frustration.
Friggin' geta-boshi… Ichigo thought angrily, his teeth gnashing together, as he and Urahara traded blows, How does he expect me to beat him like this? There's no way I can…
At that moment, something behind Urahara caught Ichigo's attention. Could…could that work? he considered, It'll be tricky, but if I can pull it off…
Edging around Urahara, Ichigo pressed forward, making his opponent give some ground. When Ichigo felt he was close enough, he put his strategy into action.
"Oi, geta-boshi!" Ichigo shouted mockingly, "Are you sure this is the best you've got? I'll bet you've gotten rusty, what with having to run this shitty, rundown excuse for a-"
In the next few moments, several things happened.
Unable to contain his wrath, Tsukabishi Tessai dove forward, only to have Ururu and Jinta latch onto his legs in an attempt to stop him. However, the combined weight of the two children only did so much.
Distracted by Tessai's rumbling bellow of outrage, Urahara glanced back at his assistant.
Taking advantage of the sandaled man's momentary lapse of attention, Ichigo darted forward, slicing towards Urahara's momentarily unguarded bucket hat.
Sensing Ichigo's intent, Urahara brought his blade up, only to have the wind knocked out of him as the combined weight of his staff hit him in the back.
The combined personnel of Urahara Shōten then crashed into a triumphant Ichigo, sending the five of them rolling over the rocky terrain.
"Yatta…" Ichigo groaned from beneath the mass of bodies on top of him.
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A/N: This chapter took a little longer since I got a new job last week. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! And also thanks to everyone who has read, but chosen not to review. I'm grateful, but you're just not as cool.
Japanese Translations:
Shunpo- flash steps
Yatta- I did it/alright!
Okiro, Benihime- Awaken, Crimson Princess
Nake- sing
Boshi- hat (in calling Urahara geta-boshi, Ichigo's calling him sandal-hat)