... LE GASP! OMG! Is she actually updating within the same week?! This is too good to be true! lol, ok, I had my fun ^_^. Yes I am updating the in the same week, amazing I know... well enjoy chapter 22!
The next morning Hoshi woke up in a foul mood. After Ikkaku had left she had made several holes in the walls with her fists before heading out to watch the 'brats' as she called them. She had gotten very little sleep and by the time she had to get to school she had downed 3 pots of coffee. To make matters worse she had received a letter from Soul Society that she would be punished for her attack on Ikkaku Madarame once she got back. The letter also said that at the end of every week someone from her division would come to retrieve her report.
But this was the least of her worries. Although she didn't know it she was being watched. Yoruichi had gotten information from Soi Fon about her mission in the living world and now the former captain was keeping a close eye on her. Yoruichi was currently cloaking her spiritual energy and watching Hoshi from the windowsill of her small living room.
As Hoshi walked out of the apartment Yoruichi followed, keeping a distance between them. It was harder for Yoruichi to spy on Hoshi at school, but she managed it. But there was nothing really to see even though it was obvious Hoshi was watching Ichigo and the others. So Yoruichi made her way back to Urahara's shop to report.
"So all this Hoshi Takaya is doing is watching them?" Tessia asked, perplexed.
"It would seem so," nodded Yoruichi, remaining in cat form. "From what I can tell she hasn't been given a lot of information on her assignment other to watch them."
"Hm.. So she doesn't know about Ichigo's hollow yet." Urahara nodded from behind his fan. "We need to call him here and tell him to be careful. We don't want Soul Society finding out this little secret."
That night, just as Ichigo was getting ready for bed he heard a loud splat noise at his window. He nearly jumped out of his skin when he heard it, but shook it off and turned to see the bloodlike paint running down the window. Ichigo, come to the shop now. Leave Rukia at home. The message was straight forward enough but Ichigo was still sceptical until the paint continued to ooze down. It's about your hollow. With a shocked face Ichigo opened his window and wiped off the paint with his hands.
Ichigo quickly washed his hands and left Rukia a note telling her he'd be back soon and to just stay put. He got to Urahara Shoten in record time. The doors flew open before he could say a word and Tessai practically threw him in.
"What was that for?!" Ichigo yelled, still being held by Tessai.
"Ah shut up," Jinta said, hands behind his head. "You should be thankful we're helpin ya."
"Um Jinta, you shouldn't be talking to Ichigo like that." Ururu said in a quiet voice.
The two began to bicker and Tessai split them up. This left Ichigo even more annoyed. He was about to yell again when Yoruichi and Urahara came out. The looks on their faces made Ichigo go into 'serious mode'. They sat him down and explained the situation.
"I knew it! She is a spy. But why would Soul Society send a spy to watch me?" Ichigo's mind was going a mile a minute.
"It could have something to do with your hollow," Urahara said matter-of-factly.
"How could they possibly know abou-... my fight with Byakuya..."
Urahara nodded. "Just be careful for the time being."
".. Alright, what division is she from anyway?" Ichigo asked.
"The eleventh." Yoruichi answered.
"Wh-what?!" Ichigo stammered. "You've got to be kidding me! There's no way."
"I was shocked as well. At first I thought she was from the second division, seeing as she is a spy, but, she is the 4th seat of the 11th division. What's more amazing is she died recently."
"How recent?"
"A few months," Yoruichi said calmly. "I looked into it and she had been murdered in Tokyo, and the following two weeks she had killed over 4 dozen hollows with her bare hands. She is extremely dangerous."
Ichigo gulped and got to his feet. He wasn't sure if he should warn Chad, Orihime, and Ishida. On the one hand they would be aware of Hoshi, or as they knew her Hikari's reason for being there, but on the other hand they might try to confront her. Either way it was bad.
"Thanks. I'd better get going before Rukia tries to find me."
With that Ichigo left. He had a lot of information to process. So this Hoshi Takaya, had not only been sent to spy on him but she was also insanely powerful, possibly psychotic, and in Kenpachi's division, this was not good for him on any level. If Kenpachi came down to check on her, which he prayed he didn't, he may have to fight that psycho. Hell he might have to fight Hoshi, and Ichigo had no idea what she could do! Grudgingly Ichigo made his way back home, checking over his shoulders to make sure no one was following him.
"Where were you?" Rukia asked as Ichigo went back into his body.
"Urahara had something to tell me. But I guess you already knew that Hikari Honda is a soul reaper named Hoshi Takaya." Ichigo said, stretching his arms over his head once he was back in his body.
Rukia nodded solemnly. "Yes. But I have no idea why Soul Society would send someone to spy on us. In any case let's not give this Hoshi anything too report."
Meanwhile Hoshi was out keeping an eye on Uryu Ishida. It seemed to Hoshi that the Quincy would be a good place to start, but she found out that this was not the case. From her perch on a tree outside Ishida's room she just watched the teen do homework, sew some things - some of them questionable, and go to bed. For Hoshi watching Ishida was like watching paint dry.
"I guess you can judge a book by it's cover. This Ishida is just as boring and anal as he looks." Hoshi said quietly to herself, writing quick little notes in the Quincy's file folder.
"I whole heartedly agree with you."
"AH!" Hoshi yelled at the sudden appearance of a white haired man behind her. She was so startled that she fell out of the tree and landed on her butt. "Oh ow. Who the hell are you? And just what do you think you're doing sneaking up on someone like that?"
"I believe I should be the one asking the questions here," the white haired man said sternly. He looked familiar, but Hoshi couldn't place him.
"Oh, and why is that?" Hoshi snapped, getting to her feet. This job was turning out to be a huge hassle.
"Because this is my house and you are watching my son." He said coolly, getting down from the tree.
"Shit. Ryuken Ishida, right? Fuck. Why can't I have one of those 'flashy lights' like in Men in Black.... " Hoshi groaned shaking her head. Then she realized she did have something similar to that and reached into her pocket. "Oh wait, yeah I d-"
"I don't think so," Ryuken said, grabbing her hand, twisting her around and covering her mouth with his other hand. "I'm going to let go, and when I do get out of here. I have no interest in why you're watching my son, but I don't want you here soul reaper."
Hoshi nodded slowly. Normally she would have just turned around and beat the shit out of this guy, but his position brought back painful and terrifying memories. As soon as Hoshi felt Ryuken ease his grip on her she shunpoed away as fast as her feet could carry her. Ryuken remained on the lawn for a few more minutes. He lit a cigarette and looked up at his son's window.
"What is Soul Society up to now?" he thought out loud before heading back inside.
By the time Hoshi returned to the apartment she was shaking and panting, but not from the effort of the run. She slammed and locked the door behind herself and let out a long scream. Hoshi slid to her knees and brought herself into a tight ball on the floor. Hoshi laid on her side, breathing in and out slowly, her eyes open but her expression vacant. Slowly she got back to her feet and returned to her gigai.
Hoshi dragged herself to the bathroom and turned on the water. She stripped and got under the burning hot stream. She just stood there for a time, letting the water scald her flesh, before she grabbed a bar of soap and proceeded to clean herself. The blank look remained on her face the whole time. When she was done the soap was a small sliver and the water was running cold.
As Hoshi limply walked to the bedroom she gathered her clothes, only to toss them onto the floor again. She dressed into a pair of pyjamas quickly and curled into a ball on the bed. She stayed awake for another 3 hours, reliving her most terrifying memories before she finally fell asleep.
ooooohhhh and you thought I was being NICE! HA! No such luck! ... ehehe sorry ^_^ I can't help it! I leave you with a cliffy! DUN DUN DUUUNN!! (avoids flaming arrows and a rabid fangirl) now review please!.... please?