Woo Hoo! I finally finished Chapter 5! I tried my best to stay accurate to the information I gathered for Eris background but if I git something wrong I sincerely apologize. I don't own Bleach or Stark. Just Eri and Taylor aka Taiyou.
Chapter V: Timelines
It was like a dream…
Floating in the abyss of nothingness for days upon days…The only thing keeping her thriving for life was the past. To live and learn…To know the truth. Making every waking moment that she breathed restricting. She was boned chilled remembering that tragic day for the rest of her life. She would know the haunting and the nightmares were soon to become reality. And with every day passing her by, she would know the meaning of her fear as it followed her behind.
~Two Years Earlier~
A loud sound startled the hell out Eri when she stood before the 12 Captain's of this strange place she was in. One minute she was dealing with her own problems, the next thing she knows, she ends up saving a life…Or two…She wasn't really how that happened but all she knew was it must've had to do with her brothers powers when she saved that man Starrk, and his 'other part' as he remarked before they were separated by the men in old black outfits.
It was as if everyone there dressed in those old kimonos' but what puzzled Eri the most was where the hell she was at! She witness two doors open in front of her with a bright beaming light leading to the other side. And here she was now standing alone before the old man who had asked for her name previous to their departing to this weird wonderland.
She was beginning to think it wasn't real, that she was hallucinating from all the stress her body was enduring. After all, she wasn't in the best condition, she was still in pain from the repercussions of her other fight before coming here. And yet it seemed like it all faded into the back of her mind when the old man with the long beard stepped in front of her.
She studied her for another moment, and tapped his staff to the ground, "So, tell me girl. How is it that you were able to produce a power such as yours?"
The girl paled and gulped back as she shrugged. She knew, she just didn't trust anyone here. How could she? They just kidnapped her! "You have a voice young lady now use it!" He boomed making the girl shake even more, and her throat tighten.
Eri looked around her left and right to look at the various sizes of Captain's. A few were scary looking with the way they stared her down, but the others either paid no mind or gave sympathetic looks to her. Guessing an idea, it was probably from the face she was making, and the way her body wavered with fear.
She was deathly afraid.
After a moment, Eri attempted to stand her ground and puffed out her chest to fill herself with some kind of confidence…Then she spoke, "I can't answer that…The question you gave me I mean…" She trailed off to say, "All I can say is, I was born this way…Came from my mother's side. Grand mother had it, and her parent before her. It's a generation thing." Her eyes began to tear from the corners when she looked up at them with a determined feature.
The long bearded man stared back just as curious and heavy minded trying to wrap his head around it before suddenly hearing a frightening look Captain with yellow eyes and a white face to speak out, "If you'd like I could find out what she is. Just give me a scalpel and you'll know by the end of today."
"Captain Kurosutchi! That is unacceptable and absolutely despicable, we have no need for such drastic measures as that. In any case, are you sure you were born with them."
"I've been aware of them since I was a kid, and my parents seemed to think I was just being a kid. So…"
"That's quite enough, I've heard all I need to hear. As for these, traitors, Espada number one, Coyote Starrk, his counter part Lilinette Gingerback, Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, Nnoitra, Szayel, and Harribel, you are all hear by put into imprisonment until further notice! As for this girl, I wish her under surveillance also until further notice!"
"Hey wait please don't do this, what exactly did these people do!"
"It is none of your concern child, now, take them away."
"Please! Let me at least stay with them, don't make me stay by myself!"
The whole rooms eyes shifted, either with a glare or confusion as to why she would ask such a thing, but to be honest, Eri didn't know why herself, maybe because the brunette and the chick were the only two she really, knew. Not really, but they were a familiar face, "I'm not a part of whatever this is, but I just….I want make sure nothing….Happens."
"I don't understand child, explain quickly!"
"Right, well, I just-,"
"I don't think she wants to be alone Captain, is that such a bad thing. I doubt they'll do anything to cause any harm, right?" A man with a wide straw hat and a pink kimono covered in cherry blossoms smiled at her. She surprisingly found him relaxing and smiled with relief, "Yes. I-I promise, please give me a chance to prove that we can work this out. Please…"
The room fell silent, no one spoke but everyone knew the answer already. Luckily they were all wrong, "I will give you one chance dear girl. But if you make me wrong on this…It will be something you'll regret."
"Right." She nervously smiled, "Got it. Th-Thank you. Really, I don't want to cause any harm in fact I didn't even mean to get in the middle of-," Suddenly the doors burst open; a boy about Eri's age, with bright orange hair, brown eyes, and a black kimono came in looking around at the many faces, making his round about until he laid eyes on Eri.
At first she jumped a little when he saw her, it was as if he knew her, "You…" And apparently he did, "You're from my school!"
"What?" At first she didn't seem to recognize him, but the closer he came up to her, the more the two smiled, "Ichigo?"
"Eri? What are you…"
"I was going to ask you the same." She laughed, surprised and utterly shocked.
"You know this boy?" The one Yamamoto asked.
The two looked away from one another and then to each other again, "She's in my art class. I don't see her often, but-, Eri what are you doing here? How'd you get here?"
"They brought me here."
"What? Why?"
"This girl was assisting the arrrancar, we simply wanted to know her role in the affair. How well she knew them and such, but it seems she knows little about any one them."
"But how?" Ichigo wanted answers and wanted them fast, he didn't like to joke around, or be kept in the dark, so where Eri didn't answer, the old man did, "She healed the ones you see before you. Like your friend Orihime Inoue. But she's different…I can feel it." Ichigo was even more shocked and as he looked to Eri, the girl looked up at him with guilt in her eyes, "It's true. I'm not…Normal Ichigo."
"Why…You were in my art class, how did I not sense you?"
"It doesn't matter now. Your friend here has decided to be confined with the arrancar she saved until we figure out what to do with them." Ichigo heard Captain Byakuya from behind him, and grit his teeth, "No. This can't be true. Tell me it isn't true."
"I saved them. I saw they were in trouble, and that they needed my help. So, I did what my mother told me to never to do…Use my perks."
"Perks? You mean your…"
"I don't know what they are. I just call them that since my mother never told me what they were."
"Where is she now?" Eri didn't answer, her eyes scanned Ichigo's before she looked down at the floor, eyes shaded with despair, "She um…well she's-,"
"It's alright. Don't say anything." The boy paused, and looked to the council as he spoke, "Captain Yamamoto, you're making a mistake, I might not know this girl personally, but I can tell she's never hurt anyone."
"How can you be so sure of that?" Now the one with 11 spikes in his hair spoke, his eyes intently staring at the girl, which scared her even more. Even worse when he grinned, "This girl could be playing us for fools and we wouldn't even know it."
"Calm yourself, if that were so we would've seen some type of sign of it, but look at her…She's a Ryuoka."
"A what?" Eri confused she looked to Ichigo.
"A human with spiritual pressure. To put it simply, you."
"Ah. Well, I still keep to what I said, I'll stay in lock up, and whenever you guys decide to stop sq over whether or not I'm friend or foe, I'll be more than happy to leave; I'll even take them off your hands."
"What are you doing?" Ichigo didn't seem to like that idea, but she didn't want them to kill the people she saved, if anything, she'd rather have them exiled then dead, " I got it Ichigo, back off."
"Hey I'm trying to help you." He argued.
"I know you are but…I can do this." Her voice shook, almost like she wanted to be brave and keep to her word, but was afraid of what he'd say or how he would react.
But instead, he sighed giving her a hard stare. Almost like he was going to help, "Fine. But don't go anywhere until I see you okay?"
"Um, I don't think I'll be going anywhere, and when did you start caring about what I do with my life or what I do in general, I only know from art class."
"Look I know I haven't around lately since…Forever ago, but it's because I've been dealing with this, all of this. You think I just got here by chance? I'm involved in this too Eri."
"What? How?"
"Well, that's a story for me to tell you later about, right now, I don't think they'll have you stick around long enough for that."
"Right."
"Guards, take these arrancars and the girl away! While we sort this all out." With that, a bunch of men surrounded the group, leading them out of the room, and down the halls of the new strange surroundings, "Where are we exactly?" Eri asked, looking to Starrk and Lilinette who were the only ones she could seem to talk to, "It's called the Sieretei." The brunette man said plainly.
"Never heard of it."
"That's because this place isn't known to humans. Not many anyways, Ichigo and a few of his friends are the only ones that have any real knowledge of this place, or so we've heard. Who knows maybe there are others that know about this place, but not many are human. Just saying/"
"It's beautiful."
"Phft, looks more like another piss hole to me." Eri turned her head around to see the blue haired man she knew as Grimmjow, but didn't say anything, knowing guys like him are usually to start trouble rather than defuse them.
And she was all too familiar with that, and it was a remembrance when she winced, nearly falling to a knee as she held her side, "Are you okay! What happened?"
"It's nothing." She told them, more to Lily since she asked first, and was also the first to lift the girl's shirt abruptly, "Hey what the-,"
"Whoa…" The girl haired girl was stunned at what she saw, but unfortunately for everyone else was stuck on Lilinette for what she did, "What are you doing Lilinette! Put her shirt down!"
"Do you see this?" She lifted the shirt more, turning Eri so everyone could see the bruise across a side of her ribs.
"How long have you had that?" Eri immediately took her shirt back fixing it, blushing out of embarrassment, and anger, "I said it was nothing!"
"You need medical attention dear child that bruise doesn't look normal. I've never seen a bruise that size before." She looked to the pink haired man with glasses. And from what she could tell he was a doctor of some sort. Maybe a scientist, she wasn't entirely sure why, but something about his appearance gave it away.
"No, it's fine, I just had a little accident." Suddenly Eri felt another sharp pain in her side, and yelped out as she finally fell to both of her knees, holding her side as gentle as possible, some how hoping it would ease the pain.
Just then Starrk came to the rescue. His arms pulling Lilinette's away while he took Eri in his arms, "Hey what are you doing idiot!" His companion snapped nearly about to tear her partner a new asshole, before realizing he was walking towards the guards who flinched at his approach.
Then he stopped just a mere foot away, "She obviously needs help. Please."
"Starrk…I told you I don't-,"
"Listen we know you don't want to say what happen, we get that, but you need the help. Take it." Eri didn't know what to say, and as everyone watched Starrk hand off the wounded girl to one of the men in black.
"Take the arrancars to the chambers. The girl will get the medical treatment." No one objected, and as the girl was taken away, she looked back over the man's shoulder to look back at Lilinette and the rest of them, feeling scared. Scared to be separated almost. To be alone again. But, the girl was brave, and had survived hell before meeting the arrancars.
And before she disappeared, she smiled, hopeful to see them again.
Everyone saw it too. And not knowing why, Starrk felt like he wanted to smile back too, out of comfort.
~Present~
He couldn't remember how long they waited for Eri. Hours? Days? Either way it wouldn't have done them any good. Waiting was the only thing they could do to keep Eri alive, and what sucked more was that it was at Urahara's house, and Starrk could barely get a minute of peace.
Even when he went out to the front to get some fresh air, Lilinette comes out of nowhere to find him, "I knew you'd be out here."
The coyote sighed deeply, "Can't I get one moment of peace?"
"Not with me around no. Actually I wanted to see how you were about the whole Eri thing." She asks thing all while closing the door behind her to make sure no one uninvited decided to sneak up on their conversation. After all, Lily knew that her partner was in a rut.
He just seemed so hurt, and torn over Eri. And as much as he tried to hide it, he couldn't hide from the one person. Himself, "She hasn't waken up for hours, almost a day. Yeah I'm worried."
"Well why won't you say anything?" She protested.
"What good would that do me Lilinette. Eri's hurt yeah, but…She knew about it too." He paused for a second.
Yeah that's what it was. He remembered all of those times she hid her scares, her physically pain, her fears. Everything pointed to that bastard inside her body. And Lilinette could feel the tension it caused him.
As much as he didn't want to admit it to himself, Lily knew that Starrk would eventually have to give into liking Eri. If not just a little bit.
The only question was, how to get him out of this crappy mood, "Why don't you go talk to Urahara. I'm sure he'll ease your thoughts."
"Mm. Maybe, but it still doesn't change anything. Eri's in danger. And I want to find out why this man is after her. And what will stop him."
"Like I said. Go talk to him. I'm going to Eri." Starrk chuckled at that, and looked to Lily with a smile, "You haven't let her side once have you?"
"Hey that's my friend in there! I back her up no matter what!"
"Good for you."
"And you should too!"
"I do." He replied a little confused by how she was sneering at him. And after her very notified nod, Starrk shook his head and sat up from the steps to do as his counter part suggested, and slowly made his way around the house only to find the living room, and most of the arrancar flipping through the channels, "Would you just pick something already!"
"There's nothing on ass."
"At it again I see? Grimmjow? Nnoitra?"
"Humph, who asked you wildly coyote."
"Ha ha…Any one seen Urahara or Tessai."
"Nah, but I saw one of the brats run by here a minute ago, said something about bringing towels up to Eri."
"Towels?" It was odd, but that was all Starrk needed to start up the stairs, and down the hall to the last room on the right, which Eri was staying in.
Of course making sure not to intrude, the Prima knocked on the door, "Come in." Well, it wasn't hard to find Tessai that was for sure, and next to him was the little girl that was always with the red headed boy. Ururu was what he remembered her name to be, "Ah Starrk, didn't think you'd still be here. How are you doing?"
"Better now that the excitements died down. Any word from Ichigo?"
"Unfortunately he went out of town for a couple days and where they're at it may take some time to get back. But don't worry he says he'll get here when he can."
"Is he at least on his way?"
"Yes. We told him to wait, but he felt he should come back in case our friend decided to make another appearance."
Starrk nodded his eyes going from the burly man to the slumbering girl, "What about Eri?"
"She's looking better, no longer pale or having trouble swallowing so that's good. She can finally drink to hydrate herself. When you brought her here it was like she had been starving herself." Starrk cock a brow at the large man, "That's not right. She's been eating frequent meals and everything."
"Then it must be from the one who tried to destroy her. Who ever it is, they certainly want this young woman dead."
"That's another thing I came up here for, have you seen Urahara, I wanted to ask him about any leads he may have."
"Hmm…" The man rubbed his chin, and his glasses flickered, "Last I remember he was talking to Ms. Yourichi in the kitchen."
"Ah. Wait, you mean the cat woman?"
"Yes, that's her."
"I didn't even know she was here." Must have slipped my mind.
Suddenly a small cough came from Eri, her body convulsing to the cough itself, but her eyes were still closed shut, and her temperature seemed to drastically grow again, "Hmm, this is strange. I've never seen a fever like this before. Maybe once, but not for a long time now."
"What is it?"
"It seems her body is trying to repel what I've given it. It's working don't worry, but it's just so interesting to see."
"Anything distinctive?"
"Take a look." When Starrk actually looked at Eri and took a few steps up to the bed side, his eyes widened a bit to see the girl pulsing a shade of orange just on the rim of her body's outline, "Whoa."
"Whoa indeed. I might want to tell Kisuke."
"Is this bad?"
"Not really, if we can catch this thing before it gets worse it should be a walk in the park."
"What is it exactly?"
"Well, it's not rejection on Eri's half, but on that thing inside her. It's attempting to block off any way of helping her."
"Why? I don't get it. Who is this guy?"
"You got me. You'll have to ask her." Both Starrk and Tessai turned to find it was Urahara who had come to find the two this time, and just in time too, "I heard someone was looking for me?"
"Yeah, I was." Starrk said before looking back to Eri's sleeping form, the look of pain hiding beneath her slumber, but from what he could see she wasn't in so much as before. Whatever it did to her, it didn't have that big of an impact as he was hoping for."
"So that's good news."
"Well, it's a sign of recovery, but she's not out of the woods yet. Here's to hoping. Would you like to keep her company in the mean time? I'm sure she'd appreciate it."
"Sure. I don't mind. Maybe I can get some peace and quiet here."
"No problem. Tessai?"
"Yes sir." Without delay the two were left alone, Stark stood there by the door for a moment examining Eri's nearly lifeless body, her pale skin, and knitted brows. She was fighting for her life and he couldn't do a damn thing about it. The Espada felt helpless.
He stepped up little by little, slowly making his way to her beside, and sitting down next to her, studying her, conjuring. Thinking. Thinking was the only thing that ever got him through. Now that he had someone other than Lilinette to worry about, Stark could only grab the girl's hand, and hold it. He held it tight, hoping she would know that he was there with her. That she wasn't alone.
His eyes softened, and focused hard on the girls face. He couldn't help but think of how beautiful she was, how much he wanted to see her face brighten like the sun again. His heart was aching, his body pulsing with worry and remorse. Anger. He could control his frustration, but he could only hope she would wake up soon enough. Open her eyes and give him one of her great smiles that he seemed to be missing at the moment. "Hang in there kid." Was all he could think to say, feeling stupid for saying it, and shook his head as he scoffed, "What am I saying…Look, I know I screwed up. Bad. I should've been watching you. I failed you as a protector…And as a friend. And I know don't really show my appreciation for a kind of woman like you…But…" His eyes trailed to their connected hands. The feel of her own soft skin touching his own. He began to intriguing study their fingers, slowing lacing them together, "Ah hell, I do worry about you. Maybe more than I should. Everyone keeps asking me why I care so much. I still can't give them my answer of why…Maybe I don't need to answer them. I just do. And that's okay. Because I-…" His throat swelled. He could hardly swallow when he felt the need to say it.
If any time was right, it wasn't now, but he could barely keep it inside. He wanted to say it for the longest time, and who knew when would be the next time he'd get this opportunity, "I like you…" When he did, an over whelming chill ran up his spine. It was a good feeling though, one that made him lean his lips to her bandaged hands, kissing her soft exposed knuckles. He even inhaled, taking in that scent he could nearly taste on his lips as he put her hand held in both, his eyes searching the girl for any kind reaction.
Of course. He should've known better. He had finally found the courage to tell the girl how he really felt, and here she was, unconscious, not even listening to a single word of it. He felt ridiculous, but hid it as he squeezed her hand, laying his head against it, his eyes closing as he sighed, "You know, this wouldn't feel so tedious if you could actually hear me. Or at least tell me whether or not you felt the same." He lightly tittered at his own words, suddenly hitching his breath when he felt Eri squeeze his hand.
It was barely noticeable, but he felt it, and lifted his head to see her hand holding his. It surprised him at first, but his expression filled with what looked like pain and shock as he noticed her face still in a deep slumber, but her hand seeming to be the only thing responding to him.
It was good enough for him to know that she could still hear him, that everything he just said wasn't a waste after all. And now, all he could do was use a free hand to brush her hair out of her face, and slouch over so he could lay his head down right next to hers.
As much as he would've climbed into the bed to ease her the best he could, remembering that his closeness had calmed her thoughts once before, but seeing how much pain she was in, still fighting the way she was, connecting their heads as he drifted to sleep was as close as he was going to get to her at the moment.
He hoped that by the time he had awaken from his nap, Eri would be awake too, smiling again, if not just a little to make him feel…Not so alone again.
It sucked trying to hold a barrier through shear will, the blue bubble protecting Eri's soul only seemed to waver between strength and weakness, bad and good, orange and blue. The two wavered and pushed between the other, one trying to out do the other, but the dark haired girl stayed strong, her knees up to her chest, as she held them tight, feeling almost out of energy while she laid in her empty abyss, her soul battling against another.
The creature chuckled which caused Eri to open her eyes to the red spiky haired man, his green sadistic eyes staring back at hers. His handsome smile turning into a grin as he leaned a hand against the blue. It repelled his touch, causing his fingers to shatter away before reforming as he stared down at the reaction, amused, "Interesting, still resilient, still strong, and beautiful, yet still weak minded as ever, taking such pettiness against Espada's such as those; I bet they haven't even noticed by now that I maybe a hollow, but I still retained my human form. What fools…And you still want to try to keep them safe eh? That won't last long if you keep getting so pathetically weak! Eventually I will take over, and once I do, you and the rest of your family line will suffer. Suffer for not keeping your end of the bargain."
"I did keep my end of the bargain, but after what you did? Those people you killed with your powers, my powers! You expect me to sit by and let you control them? Control me? To use my powers against my friends? You've killed enough people I care about, and abused me for far too long, I won't be weak I won't let you take it. I won't let you take me. You tricked my mother, fooled me, knowing I was different from everyone else, and murdered, if not all, my family. I will never surrender, I will fight you to the bitter end."
"Cute sentiment princess, but no matter how hard you'll try to stop me, you know deep down you can't. Not when I own half of what you are."
"And you bonded with me on purpose so you could."
"As I've mentioned before since you have such a short term memory, when we were married you knew the risk."
"And I will find a way to undo it. I will. I don't care if you are a part of me now, or that you have half of my powers. For now, you are just a parasite, I'm just trying to find the formula that's a permanent solution." The man stared, itching his goat-y as he seemed intrigued by the idea. Eyeing his ex lover; from what Eri could tell, her words did seem to make him think.
To make him think she really did stand a chance against him. None the less that stupid idiotic grin took his face, "Very well Eri, I'll play your little game. I do love a challenge after all." His rieshi seemed to diminish the orange glowing oozing and irradiating ceasing, having her own bubble still remain.
He must've missed it before but when he had reached out for her barrier before, it had left him cut, and dripping of crimson blood into the abyss. When he notice the red painted on his fingers, he licked his lips and began to suck on the wound, before licking his lips of the liquid, "Just remember that I'll be waiting for my opportunity. The moment you let your guard down, the very moment you slip up, I'll be there, like I've always been, waiting for my chance to devour your soul. I will become stronger. Mark my words."
"You're a deluded bastard Taiyou."
"Who's the deluded one here, really? You put on a tough act like you're some tough bitch, but I know the little girl dwelling inside you, I constantly seeing you struggling, like you've got some excess baggage riding up your ass."
"You're my baggage Taiyou, and until you decide to make you're move, I'll be waiting too. And I'll get stronger than you, faster, keen in all sense of the word. And when that day comes you decide to stab me in the back, you won't even recognize yourself when I'm done with your pretty boy face!"
"Heh, I accept your challenge Eri. A year from now, I expect you to be at your best. I'll explain the rules when I'm actually powerful enough to have a physical form of my own."
"Just get out of here, before I loose my temper." She was tired of staring at him, sick of seeing his face. His heavy acidic aura only making her feel nauseous as she felt herself come more into consciousness.
"On me? That's a laugh. Later sweet tits." She gave him such a glare that if her looks could've killed him, she would, in an instant if it was possible.
But as his form diminished below her, Eri felt her soul fall heavy, almost as if her body had accepted herself back into her vessel.
Next thing she knew, she was laying on a bed, not of her room, but of some unfamiliar house. Yet, the only thing familiar was the face of a man she seemed to focus in on when she rubbing her blurred vision with a hand that seemed to mindlessly move there on demand.
When she saw who it was she smiled laying her hand down against her stomach as she watched Stark sleep. His comical sleeping pattern always giving Eri a fit of giggles, even when her body felt like it was falling apart. It hurt to laugh though, she could barely make the sound without gritting her teeth, and hiss.
Then she felt it. One of her hands seemed to be laced with something, and when Eri's eyes found what it was, her eyes softened, her lips smiling but, contently, lovingly. She seemed to remember none to little of what he said, something that made her squeeze his hand again, and waken the man completely from sleep.
Like, snorting so loud that it scared the living hell out Eri when he rose from the dead, "Oh dear god my hand!" He even jerked the injured hand he had a grasp on, getting the girl to arch and hiss before feeling the Primera completely release, "Eri! I'm so sorry! Ah man…" The coyote rubbed his eyes with his fingers and rubbed his face before he out to help, "Do you need an ice pack or anything?"
"N-No. I'm okay really, the nerves are just tender that's all."
"I wouldn't blame you. Kisuke said that your injuries would take awhile, but you were stabilized."
Eri tried to sit up a little after the pain had settled, her finger tips throbbing to numbing. Then Stark grabbed her elbows, making sure not to touch her hands now that he had hurt the poor girl. He felt so careless, and wanted to atone for that, "How are you feeling? That 'hollow' gave your body quite a beating."
"Nothing I can't handle Stark, but thank you for asking."
"Yeah, well…I'll go get the others let them know you're awake. Lilinette's been worried sick about you."
"I'm sure she has…"
"We all have…" His voice was soft as he muttered, getting Eri to look up as she ran her fingers through her hair, seeing the stern look in his gaze. She knew what the look meant, and blew a strand up in the air, hoping to get it out of her face, but it only fell to the side, still in her view. Then she looked down at her fingers playing with each other, the action of nerves being unsettled.
She knew she couldn't hide it anymore. She couldn't try to keep Taiyou a secret anymore. Not without destroying not just herself but everyone else in the process.
If she didn't tell them now, Taiyou would win, and in a way, Eri would've been protecting him. She couldn't do that. Not anymore. She was pass saving him. There was no redemption in what he had done. What he planned on doing. There was so much to tell. She could only think of where to start as she bit her lip, "I know, I said I would control it. That I could." She rubbed her arm, her eyes full of guilt, and regret as she looked down to her knees, anything other than seeing the gentle stare of the coyote standing before her, "…I'm sure you're pretty disappointed in me huh?" She attempted to itch the side of her head, but instead she felt a sharp pain hissing back, getting Stark to take a step forward.
Eri put out her hand easing making him freeze and relax as she looked up to him again, "I owe you an explanation. About everything, the bruises, the powers…There's a lot more to me than I've been leading on, only because I've been trying to keep my grandmother's promise before she passed away." Stark watched the girl closely, hearing her out and knowing that there was more to be said, "Before you start, you need to have the others here too. If Kisuke knows more about what's wrong with you, he might have a better chance of helping you. You trust him, right?" Stark waited for her answer seeing how timid she was just by look alone.
Then she sighed, grabbing the pillow she once laid on to embrace it to her chest, and hunch over it with her chin on the soft cotton, "I do. Even if I didn't know, I wouldn't have much of a choice. From what I remember, Kisuke's a very smart and dangerous man."
"Loony too sometimes." Eri couldn't help the giggle, tired and still aching though she though the pain was worth it, seeing a smile cross the Primera's face. She didn't know why, but the girl's heart fluttered, her cheeks feeling rosy and hot as she looked away bashfully.
Stark seemed to notice it, but knew this wasn't the time for their own little talk. They had plenty of time after to speak to one another. Right now, all Stark wanted to do was make sure she was really alright. Especially if she was anxious to go home. Knowing her, she liked being at home more than someone's place. Go figure.
It didn't take long for Kisuke and Tessai to return along with everyone else piling into the room. They weren't exactly why everyone had to come, and Grimmjow was the first to speak being in the far corner to keep his distance, "Can someone tell me why everyone had to follow?"
"Curiosity. You're not the only one Sexta." Nnoitra retorted nastily, seeming just as bored as they watched Kisuke take the girl's temperature, and all. It wasn't like a cold though, this time of temperature taking was of her soul, and reishi, to make sure nothing funny would happen, or heaven forbidden, go wrong. And Eri wanted to be at a 100% before she left.
She didn't trust Taiyou's words, not by a long shot. At any time he could attack, and Eri needed that reading to calm her nerves, "Che, apparently so, but this is ridiculous. I can barely breath in here."
"Then get out Grimmjow no one's forcing you to stay here." Lily spat about to throw her shoe at him before Stark stopped her by a grab of her wrist that held her accessory, "Not in here Lilinette."
"Oh. Right."
"If you guys want to go back to the house it's totally fine with me. As long as I have someone with me I'll be okay." Eri suggested, hoping they'd take it since they all looked pretty exhausted.
"The hell with that, I want to see what made you go all psycho." But of course Grimmjow just had to be the stubborn ass about everything. At least in Eri's eyes.
Did he say what I think he said? "I didn't go psycho! Whenever everyone's ready I'll explain everything."
"Why not now. Now's a good time as any." Kisuke interjected the two seeing the look on Eri's face. It wasn't worry, it wasn't disturbed by what he said either.
If anything she seemed like she just wanted to get it off her chest. And with a close of her eyes and a deep shaky breath she nodded confidently, "Right. Well…God where do I start?"
"How about with Taylor."
"Oh…That…I've…I've kind of lied about his real name…."
"Really." Stark folded his arms, Lilinette listened in closely, as well as the rest of the room, "It's Taiyou. I lied about his name because his last name everyone knows. Taiyou Riko."
"Ri-, He has your last name?"
"Yeah…uh-, he's…Sort of my ex husband."
"THE FUCK!" Grimmjow's voice nearly shook the house, and startled the hell out of Eri as she closed her eyes at the feel. She hated that feeling, the feel of being internally shocked when someone would yell, the feel of a cold sweat starting while your heart is trying to stop itself from igniting into her throat. It was fear. Fear was the force, but she swallowed the feeling down as she regained her composure, her breath shaky from the after math, "Hold on Grimmjow relax. What do mean Eri was it some sort of arranged marriage."
"Yeah." She admitted shyly, ashamed, "But that's not where the story starts. My family had been doing arranged marriages for years, because of the powers we possess."
"You mean your healing ability." Kisuke corrected, his voice calm and sweet to keep the girl talking as she looked down at her hands like they had been stained, "I had another ability too. Back when I was three, my mother and I were at the park. A man was walking by with a dog, beautiful one. I guess the dog could sense I wasn't normal or something, because it just started barking at me, viciously growling and trying to get to me." Her eyes were wavering back and forth, almost afraid to say what happened, but continued anyways, "That dog was pretty strong, considering the owners hands slipped right out. His hands must've burned…That's when the dog came running at me. Teeth showing, his legs running faster than I had ever seen any animal run before. I was so terrified, I ran towards my mother, seeing her running towards me, screaming for me. I screamed for her too." Her eyes were watering, but she wiped the threatening tears away, trying to stop the pain in her sore throat.
She remember being so little, but saw the memory so vividly, it was like she was reliving it all over again, "God damn it I slipped on the muddy grass on the field and knew I was a goner. I turned to see the dog almost coming at me," She tightened her eyes the sheets tangled in her fingers now, "He was so close I could feel him moving the ground. I couldn't help it. I turned over, facing him. He was right there. Right where you're sitting. I heard my mother's cry, and I panicked. I lashed out and threw my hands up to block the dog with my hand. I killed it with just the force of that orange energy you saw…" She was breathless, rasping and hiding her face in the sheet she held, "It was an accident though. I didn't mean to kill it."
"It's alright Eri…" A hand was placed on her head calming her shaking form. No one said anything but they knew she was crying. Some more sympathetic than others, "Take a break if you need to."
"No. I'm sorry, it was just…a very hard time for me. Because I had trouble controlling it when I got angry, so my mother tried to have me concealed to only people in the family house."
"What do you mean 'family house'."
"It was where different parents with gifted children come to make sure they children grow up happy and…Accepted. That's where I met Taiyou. It was also a place where they had traditional arranged marriages."
"That's where you met Taiyou?"
"Yes." She admitted, "I admit when I first met him, he was…Well, normal as man could be. Special in his own way here and there, but…I always sense something…Off about him."
Kisuke tilted his head, "You know, if you're talking about the Riko I'm thinking of. Weren't the Riko's almost like the Romanies."
"Sort of. My grandmother was the only one I could think of that wasn't like one. She wanted a stable home, constantly had people over and opened her doors to anyone who need help. But it was never a good idea to cross her, she was sweet and old but she was skilled and deadly if you tried to stab her in the back. I've seen it done on one occasion."
"She killed in front of you?"
"When I was at a reasonable age, yes. But, hold on, don't get me off track just yet. Anyways, where was I…Oh yeah, the arranged marriage. Taiyou had the ability to bind soul mates to one another. Like, literal bond mates. He was the one that did most of the ceremonies when a few others were…Well, I don't know, but I had seen him do it plenty of times. Around the time I was a teenager and turned 16 I was married to him, binding my soul to his. He owned half of what I was, and what I was."
"That's retard." Grimmjow and Nnoitra snapped making Eri growl before rolling her eyes away from them, "Anyways! My grandmother had gotten sick a couple years after and she had to be rushed to the hospital. My mother went with herh. She asked Taiyou to take care of me. Of course he said he would…But he didn't mean in the sense she meant. My grandmother…She didn't come until after I called but…After more years of being away from her, I had been…attending to Taiyou. At first, I didn't seem to notice it, but I started to feel weak, cold, tired. I could barely move or breath. Something was sucking the life out of me, and I knew it was Taiyou when I started to notice the pattern, especially how weak I would get when he'd be far away. The further he was the harder it was for me to control the aurantiaco than the hyacintho."
"I-Is that Latin?"
"Yes. It's what my family calls it, but the power is more like destruction and healing. Bad and good."
"Who speaks Latin anymore?"
"A few! Enough to still be around, I'm just telling you how it is. When I couldn't get aurantiaco to work, I knew it had to be Taiyou. So I asked him. He said it was, but he said it was because of his contract to me, that it's just the way the marriage worked, so he was in control of it now. I believed it for a little while not wanting to think anything wrong with it since I did…You know."
"You're an idiot for giving up power like that! What were thinking! Did you even know who this prick was?" Grimmjow and Nnoitra both seemed upset by this.
"He's right, with power like that you could've just destroyed the bastard the first day ya met him. Now look at what you've gone and done." Suddenly the pantera's and the mantis's heads were smacked together causing them both to hiss and curse.
Lilinette again had made herself the little bouncer of Eri, "I'm about to kick you both in the balls and then kick ya out if you don't shut up!"
"Damn it…Lily."
"You guys are a bunch of morons! Have you heard anything Eri's been saying! The crap she went through wasn't her choice! She wanted to control her powers! She thought Taiyou would do that for her! She obviously trusted him."
"And that was a mistake she paid for. So if you two don't can it I'm going to throw you all out so she can finish telling me the rest of the story. Go ahead Eri." Eri's eyes never lost sight of Kisuke's only afraid to the look anyone else at the moment as she spoke up through the soft timid voice, "I thought I did trust. God knows I did. He seemed…Trustworthy. I thought he loved me, what could I say, I was fooled. You know what the funny thing is though. I wasn't hurt at the fact that he betrayed me…I'm hurt because he took the only other person that truly loved me and wanted to protect me."
"Eri…What happened after your mother returned?"
"It…It wasn't that. It was before. I had been watching the news lately, being at home, bored, sometimes the only is to watch the news. People were being murdered. Specific people. People I had met, and seen. One of them being one of the people of our home. I knew it was him. Everyone knew it was him. He began to use the place as his own personal kingdom. Making people fight each other, killing people that wouldn't. This didn't last long though, because my mother came to the rescue. She knew how my powers felt when they were used, and she knew something was wrong. When she got there, half of the people were already dead from refusing to fight, or do anything he said anymore. They were tired of being controlled, of not being free. I was tired too, and I tried to save the others, since that's all I could do, but many were already dead when I tried to get to them. It sucks that my powers were limited back then, and I'm still limited now. Makes it even worse that I have a mad man stuck inside me."
"How did Taiyou become what he is?" Eri's eyes darkened, her eyes reliving the memory like she had before with the dog, her eyes slightly watering not from tears but from the feel of the rush she was getting. The uncomfortable rush of wanting to rip something apart with her bare hands, "The contract. When his soul was released from his body, he stayed with me. My powers and that contract of his binding us together. The only way for me to break is to be remarried, but…That's…Not gonna happen." She blushed trying to push the thought away, "I already made that mistake once before I don't plan on throwing myself into another contract anytime soon."
"I wouldn't blame you. Sounds like this Taiyou's a piece of work. I wonder where his background could be found."
"Mostly likely the old family house, but…I'm never going back there. Never. I ran from that place and that's how I want to stay. Gone."
"Eri…"
"No! I'm not going back! You can't make me and if you even try I'll-,"
"Eri relax, relax it's alright. No one's taking you there. Nothing is set in stone, we just wanted to know what happened there. What happened when your mother got there?"
"She fought Taiyou. He was sick, my powers weren't met to be consumed, and he did so thinking that he was helping me. The Taiyou I knew is long gone, what lies under that skin now is a demon. He's the fucking devil incarnate." She gasped catching her cursing, "I'm sorry. It's just…Who do you think won? It's not that hard to see-, why my mother isn't here…Why no one is…" There was a silence.
Her mind felt like every picture was coming at her at once. A picture book at its finest. She closed her eyes and sighed, her lips glossed when she licked them, "When she came back, she saw it was just me and a couple left still standing. I was holding a barrier with hyacintho, but without my other powers to balance the scale, I didn't have much time before it would eventually give out."
"Wait, shouldn't both your powers work equally?"
"They do, but it all depends on who's using it. Taiyou was good at possessing other powers. The most arrogant thing he usually would say is you can't take people's abilities and just use them. Once the contract is made the memories of owning them become his as well. It's complicated, it's almost hard for me to remember what he said exactly myself."
"I think I understand though, it's training without the physical labor. I see why he's so good at hiding though he must've gotten that from one of the people he bided a contract with."
"Yeah. He did actually. The girl's name was Yoko. He killed her the moment my powers got to him. But, when my mother tried to take him out…He killed her too." There was silence. What could anyone say to that?
Eri seemed to go numb, but continued, monotone, and almost emotionless, "That fight lasted for hours. The place was nothing but a big pile of rock by the time they were finished. I told the others to leave, to get out when I let down the barrier. I wanted to get them out of there as fast as I could. They didn't make it. He saw my barrier dissipate and he took them down without even moving.
He nearly got me, but he still had unfinished with me and my mother. So…" She quivered and shivered, putting a hand to her lips as she found the courage to say it, "He… took over my body…I…I had no control. That's when my mother…" A flash of light blinded her, getting her hand to cover her eyes as she came to remember the sight of her mother's bloody corpse at her feet, "He made me kill my mother. He thought using me as a shield would make her slip up and it did. She tried to stop it by injuring my body, hoping that I'd be able to gain control in time to heal myself." She swallowed, "She was right." She gave a breathless titter, her teeth about to chatter, "But my mother died because of me."
"It wasn't you though, and you know that Eri." Kisuke tried to persuade her to see the reality of what happened, but the dark haired brunette could only look at him sighing, "Could you say that if this happened to you, Kisuke?"
"I'd be in shock, and I would've definitely mourned, maybe even felt guilty that I couldn't have prevented it, but never would I blame myself for something that someone else did. I mean, my actions wouldn't have been my own."
"And that's just it! I had no control Kisuke! I didn't know how to take back my body until he stopped! He st-, he sto…God I couldn't even recognize her face when he was finished!"
"Alright, no more talking about it, okay? I think we can assume you found us after you regained consciousness. Healing yourself."
"…Yeah." She said trying to calm herself, her breathing uneasy and her eyes frantic. She closed her eyes and took the deepest relaxing breath she could, then reopened her eyes to see Kisuke softly smiling at her.
She barely knew this guy, and this man made her feel…Not so guilty about everything. Why? She had done something horrible didn't she? She didn't understand why he was so nice and why he was smiling so kindly, "It had found a phone booth, called her, told her what happened. She told me she didn't have much time, and that I was her successor to her home. Her will was hidden in a place where only I would be able to find it, and that's how I got the house. Unfortunately, before I could get to the house, I found Stark wounded. And the people from Soul Society took me away."
"We weren't a burden were we?" Lily asked worriedly.
"No, of course not! Oh! I didn't mean it like that! I just meant before I could get there I ran into you guys. But after everything resolved…Well, here we are."
"Wow."
"Yeah. But you guys didn't come until a couple weeks after I had already gotten the house. That's it seemed odd that I was living alone."
"I see why though. You went through a lot Eri. And I'm sorry for your loss."
"Thanks Mr. Urahara, but I'm afraid I don't deserve your sympathy."
"Hmm? Why not?"
"Because…I lied to you guys. I didn't tell the truth about Taiyou. I just thought, maybe if I could attempt to contain him I could…I don't know."
"Make him disappear. But you should've known that hiding it wouldn't have worked. Eri, the longer he possesses you, the more he will drain your energy. He'll kill you. If not your body then your soul. Do you really want that?"
"No…" She shook her head, frightened at the reality. Her life was on the line and the one that could pull the plug on her was a sociopath, "Put I don't know how to get rid of him."
"I might. If you give me a few days to study what we're dealing with. Until then, I would suggest having someone watch you. I don't care where you're at they should be with you at all times."
"A bodyguard?"
"Yeah! Can I volunteer!" Lilinette sounded ecstatic about the idea, which Eri happily welcomed, "We could enroll you in my school if necessary."
"Yay! I'm so pumped!"
"Alright, but what about at home? During work?"
"What about Stark?" Lilinette volunteered her counterpart.
Usually Stark would've disagreed, but after feeling guilty for not taking care of his friend, he felt the need to take up that responsibility, "I don't mind." When he actually spoke his opinion though everyone looked at him surprised that he really didn't object, "I should've been watching her, and I fell asleep on the job thinking she'd be fine. I was wrong, so I wish to atone from my mistake."
"Stark…" The Primera looked over at Eri giving a soft smile, before running fingers through his hair, blowing the smaller hairs back out of the front of his face, "Well…What now?"
"You go home, relax, keep an eye on this one until we get something together. Don't worry, I think I might have a pretty good idea on how to fix this."
"Really? H-How?" Eri sounded hopeful, and relieved, never knowing the feeling of hope for a long time. Her heart was beating so fast, wondering the secret that she hadn't figured out for years, "Well…I can't that it'll work for sure, but I have a hunch it will."
"Wait…So you're not even sure?"
"I think I know someone who went through the same thing. Since Taiyou is a hollow, that mean he must've removed his own chain, making himself strong with Eri's power. It worked obviously, but he must've somehow retained some kind of form as a soul."
"His fleshy form." Eri replied.
"Ah, see, now that's interesting. Most hollows usually still retain their hollow forms even possessing body, but Taiyou must've found some loop hole not to."
"Again, probably my powers."
"Yeah, probably. But, until I do more research on your condition Eri you'll have to live like you normally do, just keep yourself occupied, and make sure you always have someone at your side, it doesn't even necessarily have to be Stark or Lilinette as long as someone can watch you. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"And really, don't worry, I'll have a solution before you know it."
"Okay."
"Alright…Well! You're free to go whenever you wish. I think it was Lilinette who has my phone number so please feel free to call me. Or stop by which ever you prefer, my door is always open." Eri nodded smiling happily, feeling a little better, as she bowed her head to the man who was standing before her, "Thank you Kisuke, I mean, really I appreciate your help. I don't know what I'd do if-,"
"No no, don't you be sorry. It's not easy being a Ryoka."
"Right…Ryoka…" She ruffled her hair a bit, and sighed deeply, finally putting her feet over the bed side so she could stand. Her whole body felt heavy, but she slowly straightening herself to stand, and shake the man's hand.
He gladly took hers, and bowed his head as well before leaving with Tessai who waved his farewells, "It was an honor to meet you Miss." Eri gave him a two digit salute before she hunched over to get her shoes.
Everyone else seemed to stand back while Lilinette, Stark and Halibel were the ones to approached the girl, "You sure you're going to make it home?" Lily was the first to ask, knowing not to jump on Eri just yet, even though she really wanted to.
Eri plopped down on the bed again, and slipped on her shoes over her feet beginning to tie them, "It's alright. I'm sore, and my fingers feel like they're on fire but I'll make it. My throat feels a little sore too."
"Yeah well you did screams like a freaking banshee when Taiyou was reeking havoc." Grimmjow wasn't being sarcastic, but he made sure that she knew of her stupidity, as many times as he apparently saw fit.
Until Stark stepped up to the girl, and hunched over to help Eri with her shoe laces she seemed to be having trouble with.
She seemed to feel bad about it, but gave him a half of a smile to show she appreciated it. He seemed to smile back, looking back down at his progress until he was finished.
He then pulled away looking to the others, "She knows what she did wasn't a good idea. It might've seemed like one when she kept it from us, but isn't kind of obvious that she wasn't intentially trying to get us into trouble?"
"Still, what kind of shit is that? She comes up with a bullshit story like that and we're the ones that have to clean up her fucking mess!"
"I told you I was trying to control it!" Eri yelled back wanting to smack the lips of the Espada, if only she had the energy to do so.
"And what good did that do. You're an idiot."
"Tell me something I don't know you morons! Let's recap shall we!" She wasn't serious but after screaming like that all she could was feel a sharp pain shock the front of her skull, making her hiss and lean over with a moan, "Eri? Now look what you did you asshole! Get out of here before I hog tie you both and send you to outer space!"
"The hell you could." Was the Mantis response, before strolling out, leaving Grimmjow to stay with a small gruff grunt.
"Eri, let me carry you."
"No, I'm fine. I'm just dehydrated."
"Then let's get home, and I'll get you some water. The moment we get there you're going straight to bed."
"What? But I just got out of bed-, ah! Hey Stark put me down!"
"No. Bed."
"Goddamn it I can walk- owe my head…"
"Just relax Eri, Stark's will be your big brave knight!"
"Lilinette…!" The both of them sung in unison, but the small fraction just laughed.
"By the way where's my car?"
"Don't worry. It's back at the house, safe and sound."
"Mm….It better be…" Stark and Lily chuckled, only to receive a growl from the blue haired Esapda walking behind the four. Halibel looked back at the Sexta, nudging him in the arm to get him to lighten up, but he just rolled his eyes at her.
Next - Chapter VI: Eat Me
Sorry for the long delay on this, I finally got it done J I'm so happy! I wanted to make it longer, but I figure the next chapter would be worth the wait. Hope you guys liked it, if not I'm sorry I failed you. You individually I mean…Wait…What? I don't know, I've been up since 6:00, and went to bed around 12:00, I'm beat. Until next time :P Don't do anything I wouldn't do. Which is like sticking a crayon up your nose. Hey, I'm giving you a warning, the choice and consequences are yours :D Anyways R&R and thanks for the view