Kairu (Ikuto) – a mysterious man. Not a real character in Bleach.

Bleach Fan Fiction ~ The Glass Portal To Another World

Segment 5: Blank

Rukia slowly lifted her heavy eyelids and groaned. She was sore throughout her whole body, but she sat up to observe the surroundings. She was going to use her right arm to push herself off the bed but winced. She used her left hand to hold up her right wrist, which pained her, to examine it.

There was a bleeding cut there. Normally, a wound like that wouldn't bother Rukia but something was different about this one. She frowned and let her right arm go limp to ease the pain as she stood up.

The room was white and so was the bed. The clothes she was wearing were that bland color too. It was a barren room except for the bed and one gray door. She stumbled towards it, because it pained her to walk, aiming to escape.

She let her left hand attempt to spin the doorknob, but it didn't budge. She tried using her Kidou to break it down, but somehow, she couldn't even use the weak Kidou.

She sat down on the bed and looked at the ground sorrowfully. "What is this place?" she asked herself. "Why can't I use my Kidou?"

Footsteps approached and she looked up at the door. She watched the knob spin and a man approached, holding a box, exactly similar to the one Kisuke told Uryuu to give to Grandma.

He gave her a kind smile and sat down next to her. "You're awake," he stated, looking up to the ceiling dreamily. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not very long," Rukia replied. She watched him open the box. "What's that?" she asked. He didn't reply and let the white light escape the box. "Is that Pandora's Box?" she inquired.

"Ah, so you've heard that story," he said gently. "Pandora received a box she was told never to open, but she couldn't resist, so she opened it in the end. Out of it came all of the evils: demons, death, suffering, and many more. But one good thing came out of it. That was hope."

"Is that really Pandora's Box?" Rukia asked.

"No," he replied. "A scientist, who tried making a box that would reset what happened with Pandora's Box made this. There are three other boxes like this in this world. Three of them are his failures. And the fourth one… he killed himself making it. No one knows if it works or not."

"Why did he want to undo Pandora's Box so badly?" Rukia asked.

"No one knows about that…" he said. He took a deep breath. "I'm Kairu," he introduced himself. He had dark hair that was in a normal boy's style and dark brown eyes. "It's nice to meet you, Rukia."

"How did you know my name?" Rukia asked.

"I just knew."

Rukia was silent, thinking that this man was slightly suspicious.

The man, finding nothing else to do at that moment, closed his eyes and said into the box, "To Rukia, I grant light powers." Rukia also heard a voice, simultaneously saying, "To Rukia, I grant dark powers." The words echoed off of the blank walls and blended together. The box suddenly closed. Rukia was on the floor, trembling in pain.

Kairu looked at her with sad eyes but made no attempt to help her, or rather; he didn't know how to help her. "I was instructed to leave if this situation occurred," he said and stood up. "I'm sorry. I can't help you. That's against my instructions." He excused himself and walked past the door.

Rukia, still moving about in pain, noticed her right wrist glowing. "What's happening?!" she shouted. "Why won't anyone explain it to me?! Where is everyone that I know?!" He voice suddenly calmed and became quiet. "Where is Ichigo when I need him…?" She reached out towards nothing. "Ichigo…"

* **

"Ichigo…" The words echoed in his head.

"Did you guys hear something just now?" Ichigo asked.

"No, not anything particularly strange," Keigo replied.

"Oh…" Ichigo responded, disappointed. "I thought I heard Rukia's voice. It must've been my imagination."

"Umm…" Keigo started. "I'm kind of confused right now. So… can you explain it to me?"

Ichigo, Uryuu, Chad, and Inoue spent about three hours trying to explain everyone to him so that it would make sense, but stopped, thinking that it was impossible. But Keigo really did understand. He just interrupted and asked useless questions more frequently than the rest of them would like to have him do.

Keigo suddenly bowed. "I accept this explanation," he said seriously. "I believe it."

There was a silence as everyone stared in awe at his sudden seriousness.

"It's kind of touching to see him like this," Uryuu stated.

"Very moving," Kon agreed.

"You shouldn't be talking," Ichigo told Kon.

"Excuse me," Keigo said. "I need to the bathroom." He stood up and left the room.

"Oh, I understand," Inoue said. "He was trying to hold it in."

Ryuuji entered right after that and said, "Grandma, I'll go back to the city now. Mom and Dad need me back to help them with their business. So… I shall depart for now and visit some other time."

"Can you take us with you?" Ichigo asked.

Ryuuji was taken aback. "Uh… sure…" he replied awkwardly. "Why are you planning to come though?"

"We're on a journey," Uryuu replied honestly, without spilling all of the details.

"Okay," Ryuuji responded. "That sounds interesting. Well then, pack up your things, which I know you have little of, and go to the bathroom before we leave. It's going to be at least a thirty minute walk."

"You don't even have bikes?" Kon asked.

"I can't afford one," Ryuuji replied sadly.

"Let's ask Urahara-san for a bike," Ichigo suggested, pulling out the rabbit ear headset.

***

"No," Kisuke replied, once he appeared on the screen and was asked the question. "There is no need for six bikes, let alone one, my dear little bunnies. Walk, you fat bunnies, you have to walk. Burn off some calories." The screen disappeared.

"NNOO!!" Kon screamed. "Someone has to carry me! I have little legs! I can't walk like you people. And my feet will get dirty! Come on, I'm patched up enough!"

Everyone refused to offer him a ride.

"Hurry up," Ryuuji called from outside, putting on his shoes. "Let's go, everyone!"