Hollow Eyes
Chapter Four: Patricia y yo. Gomen to Pucca
Disclaimer: I am Sam. Sam I am. I love Bleach and green and ham. Hey did anyone out there (echoes into distance since no one is there) catch that the last scene where Chad punches Sami by accident is supposed to be a cleeever parody of that scene when Chad goes over to Orihime when she was having that weird 'Peetan' dream. Member?? Anyone?? That time when she sat up and hurt poor Chado?? Yeah. So anyways me don't own nuthin. As usual.
A/N: Hey all you eager lil reviewers and alerters out there!! (wahhh only a small lucky handful likes my story) I will give you all a cookie! Maybe…well it's the thought that counts ne? Anyyyways. That part last chapter when Ichigo can't remember Sami's name and said 'Himeno'? That is the main character of the anime/manga I'm reading and watching as of late (with Vampire Hunter) and yeas I'm in shock I like them since it ain't my style. It's the main character of Pretear. But they are good. Like BBQ chips. I just ate a whole bag. And yet from the way I eat I ain't fat! Geez thank god for soccer to keep me in shape!! XD Hey my fav part writing thus far was the 'un gatito' part! AW SO KAWI!!!
Sami: I like this new toy I found!
Chad: Hrn.
Kon: I AIN'T NO TOY WOMAN!!! PUT ME DOWN YOU ARE THE SCARIEST MOST BEAUTIFUL CHARACTER I HAVE EVER SEEN BUT YOU ARE STRANGLING ME!!!
Ichigo: Hey I thought Rukia was your idol.
Kon: ONEE-CHAN!!! SAVE ME WITH YOUR BLESSED GRACE!!
TwiliteTGRgrl: Too bad that Rukia is Ichi's idol now!
Ichigo: HEH?!
Sami: Does this happen a lot? (squeezing the life out of Kon)
Chad: (nods)
Sami: Orale.
Sean: Guess who's back…back again…Shady's back…tell a friend. NOW EVERYBODY MOVE TO THE DANCE FLOOR TO THE-AHHHH!!!!
Hiruma: Excuse me coming through. (fires the annoying typo back to Candyland.) Sorry bout that.
TwiliteTGRgrl: I ain't paying you to slack off meanie.
Everyone else: Man that poor lil Sean…
Songs of the Mo: Just Lose It by Eminem and Pillar by Frontline
Her scream pierced into the darkness, streetlamps flickered and the clouds above gathered once again. Ichigo paused in midair as Rukia finished off the last hollow of the moment.
"That scream just now…it wasn't human."
Rukia grimaced. "It sounded like that of a whole turning hollow…"
The strawberry sheathed Zangetsu and looked in the screams direction miles away near Urahara's shop.
"But there is no spiritual pressure."
"Hmm."
A roll of thunder could be heard and Karin looked out the clinic window, tracing stray drops sliding down the pane. "Be careful Ichigo…"
"IIEAAAAGGGHHHH!!!!!!" The screams only grew louder and Chad sprinted to her side. She was crumpled on the sidewalk with half of her body in a deep puddle, clutching her side in clawing agony.
"S-sami!" She was fine only a moment ago. Walking away in the direction of what he assumed was where her house was located. Looking so mischievous and mysterious in her innocent smile.
"NO!" Her shuddering body swiveled about face, with her hand stretched out to stop him. "N-no…Stay away…" Her face contorted grotesquely. "I-it's not safe right…now." She looked away but the teen definitely saw something horrifying in her once slowly dawning eyes.
Chad stood frozen in fear. Her shape lost its rigidness and began to blur with an intense aura of black. She writhed in absurd and evident pain like a serpent with its head cut off. But what really spooked him was the fact that her screams and howls did not…appear at all human.
"NOOO!!!! STOP IT!!!" She howled at some unseen threat. Her body contorted and became a distorted illusion. Was she real? "STOP I PROMISE I WILL OBEY! JUST STOP!!!" And her screams immediately subsided. Chad stiffened, unsure of what to do. Unsure of what was happening. It was incredibly quiet now. The only sound that Chad could hear was the sound of his heart pounding in terror of witnessing the sight before him…and her gasping breaths as she lay silently half submersed. There were no people running out of there homes to see what all the screaming was about so…could it be possible normal people can't…hear her cries? A dog howled nearby but no human life could be detected.
Chad slowly approached her with caution. The fierce, sinister expression was still fresh in his mind. Water dripped from her and he could hear the gasping breaths she took. He kneeled down to her level. "Sami?"
"You should just leave." Her exhausted voice hid behind her curtain of hair. "Tora. We can't be friends okay?"
Chad stared in confusion. She turned her head away so he wouldn't see the scared tears trailing from her fear-filled eyes. "I'm dangerous. It's better this way alright?" This guy was a nice guy but she couldn't afford to be friends with anyone, which was all too evident. Things could end badly if she kept up with her old personality from before the voice.
Staggering to her muddy feet, she limped away into night, almost falling several times but on she went with her head bowed from the weight of a life she was uncertain about. "I'm sorry Tora."
But to her surprise a pair of footfalls fell beside her. She looked up in amazement. "Whah?"
Shadows hid Chad's face but when he turned to face her his eyes were revealed. "Weren't you just attacked today?"
Sayomi raised an eyebrow. Was this just that insane of a gentleman?
Chad saw the tear stains on her face and it confirmed with his decision to walk with her. She was all too human. The danger in her was too painfully clear and he should just back off, but the other side of Chad was kindness. "You're hurt. I'll make sure you get home in one piece." He had been fearful of her and what she could be, but this animal was also in pain.
"No." Sami shook her damp golden brown hair amazed at the man's sense of duty despite her sinister behaviors. "I promise you I will be okay. I just slipped up today and-" She shut herself up as her eyes widened. The giant stopped walking. What did she mean?
"Just forget anything out of place I say for your own good alright?" She was clutching her arm in embarrassment for letting too much slip.
Mr. Giant started walking again. "I want to ask you a lot of questions. Like how you know so much if you were knocked out. Or how come you pretended to be asleep in Mr. Urahara's. Or why your memory isn't erased like he said it would be. I want to know what exactly you are but…" He stared deep into those dangerous gold eyes despite the fear of jumping into them. "You seem to be scared of letting anyone know. So I won't ask."
Never heard him say so much… Shocked at his words, Sami smiled sadly despite herself. This guy was gonna be a real pain to deal with. He was too kind…and intelligent. Well anyone could have figured it out with my horrible performance but…he is the only one to not be so afraid as to talk to me. The old me still craves friendship to banish this new loneliness. The loneliness that came with the new power.
"Tora, Tora." She smiled. "You are crazy to be near me."
"Hm." The faintest hint of a smile was seen. He tried not to let the apprehension of her warnings bother him. She was just a wounded girl.
They hadn't talked after that. Sami just kept on limping to her house, Chad surprised to find she lived close by his own home in a nice small flat. A small cat darted away from her front porch scattered with many different plants he couldn't name in the darkness. She mumbled excitedly to herself as she dug through her pockets for a key. "Ah the stray came again!" She must really like animals.
"Thank you Tora. See I've arrived safely." She looked shyly up at him, he almost forgot that she was treacherous. She just looked like any other innocent school girl. "Now promise me that you'll keep away from me from now on. You and all of your friends. Otherwise I can't guarantee that I'll be able to…keep in control with myself." Now her eyes darkened sadly and he lost sight of her real thoughts.
"I can't Sami-chan." He shook his head.
"What!" This guy is dead crazy! How much of a warning did he need!? She frowned.
"Math tutoring." He said calmly.
"GAHH???!!!" Major anime sweatdrop. How could this guy care more about that then his own life??! "That's ridiculous!"
"I promised." He said scratching his head. "I'd like to keep my grade."
"Oh…" They both shuddered to remember how the teacher had threatened them.
Sami placed her hands on her hip in pouty (yet razzled due to her appearance) defiance. "Let's not and say we did."
"Hm. You might fail. It's quite difficult." He said bringing his hand up to a thinking pose.
"I'm not dumb!" She yelled exsasperatedly, waving her arms. "Now get off my property!" She threw her shoe at him. The effect was comical. With a slow mo halt of time the shoe hit nose and he staggered back from the force of her throw. Without a word yet hiding his faint smile he turned and ran in a chibi sort of way as she yelled and hobbled to collect her shoe. Face flushed she shook her head. "What is with that guy?! Honestly…"
"No hollow here Ichigo. Whatever made that sound is long gone." Rukia stated tiredly as she crossed her arms, looking about the place for the source of the hollow like sound from earlier. Ichigo just sighed in frustration. "Geez I'm getting tired of nothing ever being here. It's like from when we met Uryu. Only we know it can't be him." He rubbed his temple. " Sheesh this is like crying wolf here!"
The petite woman shifted the hilt at her waist, her zanpakto annoyed at not being able to stretch her legs properly. "Maybe it has to do with the new girl."
"I mean c'mon!" Ichigo continued in a rant almost missing Rukia's hypothesis. " I can't believe I'm saying this but I wish that there were some actual hollows whenever we get a call and-" He looked over at his companion. "Well maybe."
Rukia started heading toward the Kurosaki residence. "These occurrences didn't happen until today. The day Sayomi-chan came all of this started happening."
Ichigo dashed alongside her. "Yeah this is getting weird. And ya know I think Chad is hiding something from me."
His eyes looked distant as he realized just how far away he had gotten from his best friend. "I mean I know he doesn't say much but…something is bothering him and he won't tell me."
Rukia's eyes softened. "Ichigo…he's a strong guy. And he doesn't want you to worry I'm sure, if he's anything like you." She looked ahead as they neared the clinic sign. "He's your friend. He'll ask for your help if he needs it. Maybe not aloud but he will let you know somehow if he really does."
The strawberry sighed, a brief grin playing on his lips. "Yeah."
Sayomi! What do you think you are doing?!
She gasped in pain as the black beast pinned her down against the forest floor. They were in her inner realm, a lustrous jungle, which was eerily quiet. "I'm sorry!"
You must appeal to nature. You must not stay near those who come from the other side. You are the only one of your kind Sayomi. Being near others can throw the delicate balance of your powers in jeopardy.
The owner of the new voice was a beautiful woman shrouded in gold. Her eyes were gold, her dress shimmering in gold silken material and with golden adornments made her glow with the power in her form. Her golden blonde hair in ringlets, and ivory skin, she placed a gentle hand on the beast upon her, to make it get off. The black beast was a tiger. A sinister and magnificent black tiger with light blue eyes . Her newly combined zanpakto. The woman's name was Airianah, a death god of nature. She could no longer take form and so she used Sayomi as her form. The black tiger growled and backed away, finding satisfaction with glaring at the pair of eyes resting in the shadows, her muscular coat rippling in the small rays of light that penetrated the canopy above, revealing the ghost of her stripes.
Listen to me Sayomi. You are the light and dark of the world. Bringer of life and death. You must not become attached to this life for it will harm you. Listen to the light and you shall never be lonely. They know all of the world. It is your destiny.
"Yes Airianah." I sighed. "But must you be so harsh on me? You punish me so much for nothing."
HOW DARE YOU QUESTION AIRIANAH!! YOU IMPUDENT LITTLE FLEA!! The black tiger all but pounced on her, teeth knashing. You are the luckiest soul in the world to be able to live in her presence! You WILL follow her instructions to the letter understand rat?! Her front canines brushed the shaking girl's throat. Airianah sighed. She is still learning Kalaki. Patience. The black tiger, her old zanpakto spirit, Kalaki leered at the girl on the ground but obeyed her master. Why should we bother with this foolishness? I mean she blew her cover enough to let a human in on her secret!
"But I didn't-!" The black tiger couldn't take it anymore and unsheathed her ebony claws to knock some sense into her skull.
Suddenly a big white blur tackled the black one to the ground. A majestic and grand white and gold tiger. His stripes were tinted to a faint gold tinge. His eyes were a brilliant sapphire. He was Kalaki's brother and the part of Sayomi that was her inner nature and zanpakto. He was the only reason why Sayomi had to be the next Nature Shinigami. He stood before his temperamental sister with a calm gaze. Enough Kalaki. She is a child still. And she is my charge. He moved to Sayomi's side, who was shaking with the lingering energy from the beast's power when she had struck to kill. He nudged the girl gently with his nose. Do not fear, my friend. He turned his eyes back to his sister and her master, gravely. And why DO you bother here. You know that being the Nature Shinigami will not work here. You killed her mother for naught.
Tears welled up in Sayomi's eyes at the mention of her mother's tragic fate. This evil woman Airianah had purposely caused her father who had died overseas in the war to turn into a hollow so as to let him kill all of Sayomi's family in his despair. He had killed his beloved wife too. And before he could kill his daughter in his blind hollow state, Airianah stopped him and sent him to the Soul Society. She wanted no one to be left of Sayomi's life so she could take her away to do her bidding. There was nothing left to anchor her to the human life. And the scheme had succeeded in destroying Sayomi into succumbing to the Death Goddess. She had wanted a host, well she was gonna get the only one who could be that host. A friendly, loving little girl who happened to have the right kind of tiger-hearted soul she needed to be compatible with her own. Her whole life was gone and owned by this evil woman.
I am not evil Sayomi. The goddess stated firmly as if reading her thoughts. Which she probably could. My form was taken away from me and the balance of the world depends on me to keep the world safe. I was so desperate to find you my host I had to do what I did. It was necessary.
Angry and helpless tears ran down the girls cheeks. She balled her hands into fists and scratched at the earth beneath her fingernails. There was nothing she could do to get out of this but to obey. And she had left the remaining things from her home that she had held dear, her friends and hopes and dreams and she had put on an emotionless face to do it all. She had nothing. She had no one. Nada. Nadie.
The white tiger, named Arien, crept closer to her side and gave her his comforting warmth. Was it necessary to break this cub's heart? He gently licked the tears from her cheeks. Hush young one. I shall not desert you. I will get you free from this pain because it is I who caused it with my birth. I am truly sorry. I pray you can forgive me. Sayomi hugged his great shaggy head. He was all she had left to cling to. "I forgive you only if you can get me out of this mess Arien."
You disgust me so called brother. Kalaki sneered at him as he curled gently near the sniffling girl. Have you forgotten the importance of balance?! For crying out loud you grow fond of your master like a doting father! You are not my brother you are hers. You have no relation to me!
She is mine. His eyes darkened a shade bluer, as he eyed her from the side, girl still clinging fur. Leave me sister. I ignore your silly comments but you have harmed my master I shall not forgive you. Yes I am like her father for whom else does she have for strength? She needs me now for her soul is fragile enough to shatter at any moment and didn't you need her for something? So let her have things easier so that she may not break. I will protect her and though I am not strong enough now I will soon banish you from here. You and your cursed master.
"Arien don't do something too stupid though." Sayomi's eyes finally opened from her horrible slumber. She had to continue this gig as a kid that was not out of the ordinary and get up and go to school and pretend nothing was wrong with her and that nothing odd scared the crap out of her new classmates yesterday. She wasn't looking forward to it. She put on her clean uniform after showering and brushing her teeth. Then she tiredly got her hair less tangled and wet and put her hoodie on because it was a bit nippy outside. After that she snagged her lunchbag and stuffed into her backpack before taking the breakfast taco she had made and throwing some food into a bowl outside for the strays and slipping on her shoes. That was when she hopped on her skateboard and- wait a minute! I left this back at that shopkeepers! Then how did this get here?! With a sinking feeling she realized someone was onto her. Or not. He doesn't know anything about me, I'm just an innocent girl who had her memory erased and I won't question that my skateboard is where it should be.
Brushing off a close one she picked up speed on her green board, putting my hood up to hide she identity because the fact she was a tomboyish skater chick was unbelievable and her neighbors wouldn't quite understand her. She turned the corner and kept tame around the early morning pedestrians, all too aware that most girls didn't do this to get to school. Truth was that boarding calmed her; she could fly and cruise wherever she wanted and it gave her that sense of freedom she so desperately wanted again. Taking occasional bites from her taco and confidently skirting around obstacles. It almost made her feel normal…in a way. There was a small hill coming up. She felt the small hint of excitement that came with skating at fast speeds! She dug into the ground hard and sped up so that she could make a nice jump at the end of the hill. Faster faster! FASTER!! "Yeaahhh!!" She flew down the hill, onlookers watching in awe as she leaped over a trashcan then a bench without breaking speed, grabbing a sign pole to help her turn with the same speed.
But she wasn't careful enough in her fun to see somebody in the way on the other side of the corner. Chad, Ichigo and Rukia were walking to school early as well. Tatsuki, Orihime and Uryu were leading the pack with the other minor characters about two blocks ahead. Immediately hearing the board's whir from the board, Ichigo and Rukia's jaws dropped chibi style pointing at the object hurtling out of nowhere. "Chad look out!" Chad turned just in time to see…a speeding bullet with a taco hanging cutely in their mouth, a skirt whirling, and a tiger keychain flailing. She didn't seem to notice or care that she was about to run over the giant. His eyes widened and previous sleepiness dissolved in an instant. He once again prepared for the impact, suffering from severe déjà vu.
"Hahaha!!" The blur cried before suddenly dodging at the last moment and jumping onto a bench, shredding it and landing pro style on the other side, eventually slowing to a stop. "Hey sorry there Tora I didn't see you there! I hehe got caught up in the moment." The others had all stopped in wonder as to who this person was.
Chad (who was sweating heavily) shook his head. "It's Yasutora, new girl." He's pretending all of yesterday didn't happen. That makes sense to the rest of them. "Or Chad."
"Nope. Tora is waaayyy better sorry." She said pouting childishly, finally pulling her hood off and fixing her damp hair into a ponytail.
Keigo shouted in amazement arms flailing wildly, while the others looked on in wonder. "That beautiful woman can take Chad down with a skateboard!? SHE IS SOOO INCREDIBLEEEEE!!!"
"Um. Isn't 'tora' in your name? Why don't you use that nickname?" Chad sighed and actually hunched over in slight embarrassment at her teasing and childish antics.
"Nope. Nope nope! I like Sami for me." She shook her head, tearing a piece of breakfast taco off offering it to him. "Tora suits you."
Ichigo leaned toward Rukia, slightly confused, as he watched his best friend cautiously take the offered food. "What's going on?"
"Urahara informed me that her memories of the moment yesterday were erased."
"No no! Why are they so chummy? It's kinda weirding me out…" The strawberry said scratching the back of his head, his voice hitting a high note in frustration. Rukia giggled behind her hand. "Isn't she the cause of everything?"
The raven-haired woman crossed her arm as she observed the giant munching on the potato, rice, and hot sauce breakfast taco. "We don't have proof yet. We will have to keep a close eye on her."
Chad gave Sami (who wasn't having to pretend hard to be happy that someone liked her cooking) a thumbs up. She smiled rolling her eyes at his lack of talking. I shouldn't be talking to anyone but…he did like my taco…It's okay to relax some now Sayomi, I persuaded those two to let you get away with more to ensure your survival. Making friends won't hurt you but later on it could get in the way.
"Thanks Arien." She could've sworn she saw her zanpakto wink at her in her mind's eye.
"Well we should probably get going right?" She declared genuinely happily, for once able to be less cautious about herself. She picked her skateboard up and started walking. Chad sensed a slight change in her and watched her out of the corner of his eyes. Ichigo and Rukia remembered not to stare too hard so not to make her angry like yesterday when she lost control. She turned to the tall guy, her new possible candidate for a friend. "I can be less careful now. But still. We can't be friends okay? Don't even try it. You'll get in the way okay?"
"Um…who wants to be friends with you?" Chad grunted, continuing his lumbering walk towards school.
"Amiga contigo? No. Nunca. Estúpido tigre." She rammed her skateboard into his shin with a playful pout. Then she cheerfully walked on up to where Rukia and Ichigo were, making sure to greet them. Even though everyone had seen her unusual exchanges with Chad.
"Hey Kurosaki-san and Kuchki-chan!" She broke a piece of her taco off to offer them. "Want some? Big guy liked it. Careful though some has salsa even though it isn't that spicy. I got a taste for spicy."
Ichigo eyed it suspiciously as did Rukia, but Rukia was also an actress so she took some politely. Hope this isn't like Orihime's cooking. Sounds just as weird. Eventually Rukia's response was evident, genuine even. Little sparkles shot out about her and her eyes widened in childlike wonder. Ichigo grimaced. "This is delightful! Tell me what is in it?"
Sami flushed at the praise. "Potatoes, rice, some queso, eh I mean cheese, and a dab of salsa." She declared proudly. "Want some Kurosaki-san?" Rukia gave him a daring look. He couldn't refuse, but…salsa didn't work so well with him. It was a bit too spicy for him and ended up having his eyes water and his mouth breathe fire much to everyone's amusement.
"Hahaha! Sorry Kurosaki-san! I warned you though." She offered him some water from her water bottle. He guzzled it all down like a camel but she didn't mind. "So Kurosaki-san, tell me, did you finish Othello yet?"
What is she up to? Being so friendly…. The teen gave her a suspicious stare but then succumbed to finally having someone to talk to about Shakespeare. "Well…I did finish it. It was good but I thought it was a sad ending."
"Yeah it was! I was shocked that it got so depressing but you know I did think that the way Shakespeare characterized Iago fit him to a T. You know how his very first line in the whole play is something offensive?" Her pretty eyes revealed their happiness and intelligence again. The boy stared in amazement.
"Yeah he definitely pegged that guy as the perfect villain." He continued, suddenly reminding Rukia just how young her friend was. "I thought it was cool how Shakespeare ended each act with the rhymes."
"He's such a genius! Hey did you know they made it into a movie version back in the states?"
Ichigo's eyes lit up, making him seem so much younger than he often appeared to be. "Yeah?"
"I have it at my house!" She grinned. "I think it even has Japanese subtitles if you want it! I'll bring it tomorrow then! Hey have you ever read Cyrano de Bergerac? I must read my friend."
They continued to talk energetically about literature all the way to school and up the school steps until Tatsuki interrupted. Something about asking Sami if she wanted to play some soccer later. Rukia's eyes softened as she saw the interaction of Ichigo and someone his age. He needed it sometimes. Someone who can just talk about human things. He was a teenager too afterall. Sometimes a shinigami isn't a reliable talking companion. She felt a jolt of despair shoot through her and pierce her heart. He can't always have me by his side. He needs a human to be there for him. Not me. She swallowed then shook her head of unnecessary thoughts. Enough Rukia.
Sami greeted everyone she met with kindness, she was filled with the thrill of having a speck of freedom today.
And at lunch she chatted with all, gave Rukia the taste of pack-drinks from America, talked in Spanish to Chad, all her new friends. But in her heart she knew she could never remain in theirs, for if she did they would perish, and the world with it. Inside her a tiger paced, ready to knish her teeth in the neck of those she got too close to.
But there was a way to be freed from her chains. Sayomi just had to have the strength to find it.
Hi hi!! Review and blue yall! Guess what!? I even created some illustrations for the parts of this chapter! To check them out go to my profile for the link to the PICTURE PAGE! I love to draw!
Hiruma: Finally decided to post something effen waffle? Took ya long enough. (lounging in a lawn chair with his shades on)
TwiliteTGRgrl: Don't you have a job to do?!
Hiruma: Took care of it. See?
Sean: HELP!! (he is wearing a Devilbats football jersey and is being used as a tackling dummy)
TwiliteTGRgrl: Awww it suits him.
Ichigo: What the?
Rukia: Ichigo you should get a girlfriend already. You're already 16 aren't you? What's the hold up? Cat gotcha tounge?
Ichigo: (blushing redder than anything in his whole 16 year old life) What are you-?! Why are you saying that dammit??!!
Rukia: I read that you can only be 16 once. And that you need to party more.
Ichigo: WHERE THE HELL DID YOU READ THAT?!
Sami: More tension eh?
Chad: (shakes head)
Sami: Pass the popcorn.
Chad: You ate it all already Sami-chan.
Sami: Dang. It's getting good I can tell. And why the 'chan' dude?
Chad: It's less…awkward.
Sami: Whateva I'm still calling you Tora.
Sean: WILL SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME??!! I ONLY WANT MY BELOVED!!
Kon: ME TOO!!!
Sean: Aw a kindred spirit!
Kon: (pulls out a borrowed machine gun from Hiruma) Hell no! I just like taking my frustration of being a stuffed animal on ya!
Sami: That is one evil kawi animal.
Chad: (nods) Hm.