I do NOT own Bleach or the characters/places/things from it. I only own OC.
Under the sky—blue and pure, a ruined building sat still. Giant pieces of hard concrete walls and bricks scattered everywhere. Although mostly cleared out, it was left there for evidence. More investigating was to clearly come.
Feeling the sun tower his body, the Quincy took one step forward before the yellow tape surrounding the area objected. They all knew that the police in charge of looking into it were never going to find out what really happened.
…An unsolved mystery that left guilt in their aware hearts.
"How sad…" Orihime softly commented. She tightened her hold on the bouquet of flowers—the Daisies rocking tenderly to the gentle wind.
Aneko kept her gaze to Karin. She regretted dragging her little sister with them, but she couldn't just leave her alone…
"Karin," She placed her hand gently over Karin's shoulder, indicating her apology.
"I'm fine…" She assured, not taking her eyes off the building.
Aneko frowned. "Yeah… I suppose,"
Just then, Orihime knelt down, placing the bunch of Daisies on the ground, right next to the building. Every one of them stood there in silence. Another whiff of wind blew over them—their bare arms cold from it.
"Well…I guess that's all we can really do…" Uryu said. Orihime got back up and took a few steps back, next to him. "You're right…"
"A-aha, excuse me…"
Startled, they lifted their heads up, noticing a girl hiding behind the building. Behind what was left of it. She had on purple pajamas and wore her light golden hair up in two pigtails. The young girl meekly walked out. "H-hello… My name is Kari Isumi…"
They examined the chain of life on her chest… She was dead.
She approached the beautifully set flowers and smelled them. Her golden hair lightly shined under the suddenly dim light of the sun. "These are beautiful… Thank you for bringing them,"
Aneko looked at her upset. "T-this…means…"
Kari bobbed her head, smiling a smile that pained Aneko. "Yes…we died here. I don't really remember how it all happened… You see, it took me awhile to realize it…but…"
They gave her sympathetic looks. Orihime then moved towards the girl and gave her a kind smile. "My name is Orihime Inoue,"
Kari calmly smiled at her and bowed. "It's nice to meet you. Thank you for putting flowers for us…it means a lot to me and mama… I'm sure my baby sister would've also enjoyed them too…"
Aneko arched a brow. "…W-what do you mean?"
The girl began hugging the flowers securely. "…Mama and I lost my sister. We can't find her anywhere. Mama was very upset…"
"She's probably in Soul Society," Uryu explained. "It's a place where all spirits go…once they pass on."
Kari stared at him. "…Will Mama and I ever reunite with her? Will we go to that place?"
Uryu didn't know how to reply. It was usually Shinigami who handled these kinds of situations. Where the hell where they anyway? Shouldn't they have also taken the girl and her mother? Why just the baby?
It all didn't add up…
"I'm sorry…" She quickly said, looking to her bare feet. "I know when the time is right Mama and I will go too. I shouldn't doubt." She smiled soon after, lightening the mood. "Well…I must be off! Good bye!"
Once the child gracefully disappeared from their sights, the sun came out from behind the buoyant white clouds.
Karin swiftly turned around, walking off. "Aneko, I'm starving…"
Aneko took one more look at the building and followed Karin who was a bit farther than them. Uryu and Orihime looked at each other and followed them.
Karin was use to seeing spirits practically everyday, but something about Kari stricken her heart. The girl's story, her life and how abruptly it was over. Realizing this, she wiped her concealed tears.
At a restaurant, sitting by the window, Aneko watched the outside life. Her brown eyes followed as each person passed by. Uryu and Orihime sat on the other side, looking to the table. Karin had a meal in front of her but it was untouched. It seemed as if some dark cloud had poisoned itself at them.
The waitress passed by and noticed their gloomy faces. She twisted her large lips at them. Her green eyes held a look of confusion and curiosity. "What's with you guys?" She then asked, placing their drinks down.
They all glanced at her. "Oh…n-nothing…just a rough day…!" Uryu quickly responded, instinctively pushing his glasses to the bridge of his nose.
She gave more of a skeptical look in her twisted expression. Orihime then jumped in. "W-well…umm…you see…there was this thing…and it lead…to another…thing…which made…this thingy…and…uhh…" Orihime froze. "…What was I saying?"
Aneko sighed and patted Karin's head. "My sister lost at her soccer tournament…"
"Huh?" Karin shot her a glare. "W-what…?! I didn't—"
Aneko promptly covered her mouth. "Didn't…want to make such a scene from it…!"
The waitress gave her a sympathetic look, pushing some of her thin black hair to the back her ear. "Oh… I'm sorry to hear that, kid. How 'bout I give you a free desert to make you feel better?"
Karin lowered her gaze, embarrassment reaching her face. "T-thanks…" She then thought of it. "My sister should really be the one to receive it,"
"Really…? Why is that?" The waitress asked, now gazing her attention towards Aneko.
Aneko cocked her eyes to her. "D-don't listen to—"
"Her boyfriend broke up with her!" Karin blurted.
Aneko flinched.
Ah, how the feeling of victory felt incredible…
Uryu and Orihime couldn't believe the story Karin made up. They did, however, find it comical on how far those two got when fighting.
The talkative waitress nearly screamed. "Oh my goodness! That Jerk!"
"H-hey… Not like it was you…" Aneko gave her a nervous stare, watching as she roughly played with two of their cups.
"I remember when my boyfriend broke up with me…!" She immediately sat next to Uryu. He quickly shoved over more. Orihime had shoved herself against the wall. "…He told me I wasn't good enough for him! I was too needy, greedy, and annoying for him!"
"Hey, where's my meal!?" A man shouted.
"O-oh, oops…!" She giggled as she placed her hand over her fat lips. "I got'ta get workin'! Bye!"
"What was that…?" Aneko finally asked. "…I'm scared."
Karin began to laugh, pointing at Aneko. "Man…! That! Was! Awesome!"
Aneko glowered at Karin, fighting the biggest urge to smack her. But, she sighed and let it pass.
"Umm…" Orihime then spoke out. "Shouldn't we…umm…you know…do something about Ichigo… He still isn't back, right?"
Aneko nodded. "We'll drop Karin off first,"
Karin gave her an upsetting look. "Can't I tag along? I'm worried about him too,"
Aneko frowned. "You know you can't come…"
"…I know, but…"
She heaved a sigh and placed her hands over her shoulders. "Karin… you need to go home to Yuzu and Dad, understand?"
Karin hastily slapped her hands away. This caught everyone's attention—customers and waiters.
"You still think I'm weak and clueless on things, don't you?"
Her eyes grew large. "K-Karin…"
Karin got off her seat, and just before running off she spoke. "…I'm not as fragile as you think,"
"K-Karin, wait! I…!" Once Karin was out of sight Aneko disappointedly stared at the table. Uryu and Orihime looked to her. "I'm such a horrible sister… No wonder they like Ichigo more…"
"You're just worried for her sake," Orihime then replied comfortingly. "She'll forgive you."
"You tend to show your love…in…well…not the best of ways," Uryu admitted as he fixed his glasses. "Perhaps talking to her would do you better…?"
She bitterly crossed her arms, sinking into her seat. "Uryu, you're words sting…"
"We should really focus on Ichigo," Orihime carefully advised. "U-unless…you want to talk to…"
Uryu shook his head. "I'm sure if Aneko talks to Karin once Ichigo's back, it'll be fine. It will give them both a chance to simmer down…"
Aneko pouted. "…I've got nothing to…calm down about… But…" She narrowed her eyes. "…I've got another sibling who needs me right now."
They traveled to the Urahara Shop to talk to the shopkeeper about the whole situation. Once they reached it they noticed, as usual, Tessai sweeping the ground with a broom. He glanced at them, a smile stretching his lips. "Ah, it's good to see you kids again!"
Orihime nodded smiling, "Yes, it's good to see you too! How've ya been?"
"Excellent. So what can I do for you?"
"We'd like to speak to Urahara… He's here, right?" Aneko eagerly inquired. But looking around, the crazy man was nowhere in view.
"I'm afraid he went to do some business and won't be back till later."
She frowned once more. "I see…"
He noticed the disappointment in their eyes. "It must be important…"
"We need to talk to him about something important that came up," Uryu then declared. "Surely you got Ichigo's body, right?"
Tessai's eyes slightly grew. "O-oh, yes… We did get his body. We also read the message attached to his body. It's all taken care of."
Uryu arched a brow. "What do you mean? We never wrote a message."
Aneko looked to Orihime. "Ah, you wrote it? Thanks a bunch."
Orihime beamed. "Of course!"
Tessai reached into the pocket of his apron and pulled a small piece of paper out, handing it to the puzzled Quincy. "This is it,"
He took it, looking down at it. "…Please take care of him. Make sure he's out of the cold and properly handled…? We will drop by tomorrow afternoon, the latest, to explain things." He cocked a brow. "…What kind of message is this? And why on earth didn't you just give Urahara his body!? Don't you have respect for your own brother's body?"
Aneko took it from his grasp. "I thought of the note myself! It's simple and gets down to the point! Besides, I didn't want to wake Urahara and the others up!"
Uryu stared in exasperation. "What is he, a puppy!? Honestly, use your head…"
She reread the note. "Shut up,"
The giant assistant stepped in. "Well if you'd like, you're all welcome to stay and wait for his return. I'll make us some tea in the meantime."
Orihime bowed. "Thank you,"
Tessai steadily walked in the room with a platter of tea for them. He placed it in the middle of the table, and sat next to Aneko. "So tell me… Where's the young hero? What happened to his soul?" He then began conversation by asking so.
Aneko clutched onto her hot tea and blew on it to cool it down. "Well…that's what we came here for," She placed it down. "Last night we faced two massive hollows…"
He looked at them thoughtful. "Two massive hollows, you say?"
"Ichigo defeated them both…but was then sucked into a back hole…" Orihime continued, feeling a throbbing clutch to her heart.
"That's awful!" Tessa exclaimed.
Uryu nodded. "This is why we need to make sure the idiot got out ok… We need Urahara's help…"
"I see…looks like you kids have been through a lot in one night…" He stated attentively.
"Aneko, maybe you can take the time to ask Urahara if he can help you with your weapon," Uryu then suggested.
She placed her cup to the table. "Come again…?"
He pushed his glasses up. "I just figured you can ask him if he can help you with your spiritual powers…"
"W-why…? What's wrong with my powers, Uryu?" She heatedly questioned.
"No need to get excited… I'm just saying…!"
"Hum…" She gave him a fierce look. "You think I'm weak, don't you?"
"No, that's not what I meant at all!" He defended. "Can't you take an innocent suggestion without getting offended?"
"Of course I can, but there's a freakin' limit!" She retorted. "God, you're just like Ichigo!"
"What?! Never! Don't put me in the same shoes as…as him!" He warned. Orihime and Tessai watched helplessly as they both quarreled.
"Jerk! You're the one who started this!" Aneko stated accusingly. "It was inconsiderate of you!"
"Me?! All I even did was suggest something!" He countered. "You're way over your head here!"
"Well, if you're gonna suggest something then suggest it in your head!"
"W-what!? That makes no sense!"
"Don't be a smart-ass!" She angrily ordered, rising to her feet. Uryu got up as well, both facing each other with irritation and frustration in their fiery eyes.
"How am I acting smart?! It's called common sense!"
"Stop it!"
"Stop what?!"
She groaned in frustration. "That!"
He gritted his teeth. "You're unbelievably immature."
Looking away, she scoffed. "Look who's talking,"
Orihime finally got to her feet. "A-aha, come on…! We came for Ichigo, remember?"
Aneko and Uryu looked at each other and sighed. They realized how childish and foolish they both were acting. It was most defiantly stress from lack of sleep…
"Orihime is right…" Uryu spoke. "Forgive me for my outburst…"
Aneko looked at him taken aback, only to remember he was Uryu after all. He was much more mature and grown up then Ichigo. She had completely forgotten that. It must have been from arguing with Ichigo too much over the years.
As if on cue, Urahara entered the shop. "I thought I might find you guys here!"
Everyone glanced at him.
Orihime beamed. "Urahara…!"
He entered the room along with Chad behind him. "Chad? What are you doing with him?" Uryu then asked. He soon began feeling guilty they didn't get Chad themselves. They were completely sidetracked.
The witty man walked over to them, took a seat next to Tessai and pulled his fan out. "Once Tessai pulled Ichigo's body from the rain, and also read the letter, I knew this was important…"
Uryu looked to Aneko. "Out of the rain…?"
"Ok, I get it. Bad move on my part…!" She finally stated. "It'll never happen again."
Urahara's eyes narrowed. "You all have the right to be informed about this upcoming battle,"
It suddenly grew quite. All eyes were finally on him.