A/N: Thank you for the reviews, you guys. Seriously, 12 reviews for just one chapter? Heck, I had expected only 1 review!
And what? Some of you cried in the previous chapter? I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make it all seem very sad. But it makes me happy to know that you're all starting to get into this story.
So without further ado, here's Part Two. Enjoy. :)
HE OPENED HIS EYES and saw white.
Where am I...? he wondered, sitting up groggily. What just happened to me?
"Hey, you awake now?"
A somewhat familiar-looking man with dark-coloured hair and an amiable grin hovered above him, helping him sit up. "You've been asleep for a week now. Honestly, I should've known that with your reiatsu..."
"A week...? Wh—Who are you?" Ichigo asked in confusion. "Where... Where am I?"
The man expelled a sigh. "You know, I don't think telling you my name is important, but, oh well. Just call me Shi. It's a shortcut. As for your second question..." The man's eyes narrowed slightly. "You are in the Otherworld."
"The—The what...?"
"Basically it's where the dead people who have regrets reside in. They—I mean, we—are here for the sole purpose of moving on," Shi explained.
Ichigo lowered his head solemnly. "I guess it makes sense why I'm here, then."
Shi raised an eyebrow before promptly whacking him on the head.
Ichigo yelped in pain, rubbing the sore spot on his scalp. "HEY! What was that for, you bastard?!"
"You aren't dead, you moron!"
Ichigo's eyes widened. Immediately, his head turned towards Shi. "What do you mean I'm not... dead? I was killed by a Hollow—"
"One little claw through your chest isn't enough to completely kill you," Shi said flatly. "And besides, you had a healer. You could've been fixed in no time."
"How do you know—"
Shi waved him off dismissively. "We dead people can see the World of the Living if we want to. Now, Ichigo—don't ask me how the hell I know your name—you have been sent here because you are needed by someone to move on. I was asked to take you here, but I had to wait until the right moment."
"Someone...? Who?"
Shi turned his back on him. "You'll know soon enough. Just follow me. We have to make this quick, though, otherwise you can never go back to your world."
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"MOMO, I'LL BE GOING on a really important mission, all right?" Shinji said, straightening his haori and adjusting his zanpakutou. "Don't wait for me."
"Ah, hai, Hirako-taichou," Momo replied quickly, placing the stack of papers on her desk. "Good luck on saving Kurosaki Ichigo-san."
Shinji turned to her in surprise. "You know about it?"
Momo smiled. "Word gets around."
Shinji looked at his vice-captain with slightly bewildered eyes before shrugging. "Well, I guess there's no sense in keeping it a secret any longer." He turned his back on her and started to walk off. "I'll be going, then."
"Be careful, taichou! Tell Hitsugaya-kun, too!" Momo called out, waving.
Shinji waved back. "Aa."
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TAKASHI WAS WAITING BY the Soukyoku Hill.
"Is everyone present?" he asked tonelessly.
"That blond idiot ain't here yet," Kenpachi said gruffly.
"Ah, sorry I'm late," Shinji said, walking up to them. "I had to take care of some matters."
"Now that everyone is here, I shall now open the gate." Takashi immediately went to work.
Shinji leaned towards Toushirou. "Hey, kid," he said. "Momo told me to tell you to be careful."
Toushirou's ice-green eyes glanced up at him. "I see. Thank her for me when we get back."
Shinji twitched. What am I, a freaking messenger?
"It is done. Go now," Takashi commanded.
Kenpachi and Yachiru went first, followed by the others.
The last ones were Renji and Rukia.
The latter, however, stopped in her tracks just as she was about to go into the gate. "Takashi-san." Her voice was quiet. "Do people die in the Otherworld?"
The messenger turned to her, his face devoid of emotion. "Those who belong to the Otherworld do not die. However, intruders do."
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"WHOA," ICHIGO SAID IN wonder, looking around. "This place looks really normal."
The surroundings were similar to the World of the Living. There were cars, skyscrapers, roads, buildings, houses, and many more.
Shi grinned. "Yeah. Humans come here, too. However, they can't see us shinigami."
Ichigo gaped at him. "You're a shinigami, too?"
Shi blinked, then let out a hearty laugh. "Ah… It's understandable. You didn't know because I'm wearing these, did you?" He gestured to his clothes which consisted of a light-blue T-shirt, navy-blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.
Ichigo nodded.
"Well… I am a shinigami. Used to belong to the Gotei 13. But that's all in the past now." A melancholic look flashed across his face before it faded as quickly as it came.
Ichigo changed the subject. "So the shinigami who died are sent here, too?"
"Yeah. It's fun, you know. And the food here is unlimited." Shi's expression turned wistful. "The Otherworld was created for us to move on. There are some people here who, when they were alive, regretted not having a normal life or freedom. So, to make them move on, this normalcy which is considered paradise was created."
"There's no bad blood here? No criminals at all?"
"Nope. Have you forgotten that those certain people you've mentioned are sent to Hell?"
"Oh... Yeah, I forgot."
Shi shook his head, an amused expression on his face. "Anyway, tell me about Seireitei, Ichigo. They doing well?"
"Aa," Ichigo replied. "After the war with Aizen, there were casualties, but not too much. Shinji and some others are back and are captains right now. Ukitake-san's still ill, but despite that he's doing well. Also, Rukia became a vice-captain. You know them, right?"
"...Yeah, I do." Shi had a faraway expression on his face.
Ichigo glanced at him for a moment, then he changed the topic again. "So where are we going?"
"To the river."
"What river?"
"You know. That river you have in Karakura."
Ichigo stopped in his tracks. "There's a Karakura Town here, too?" he said in disbelief.
"Of course there is." Shi grinned. "This world is an exact copy of the World of the Living. Those who lived in Karakura Town will always end up in Karakura Town. However, you didn't because I was in another place when I brought you here. Now c'mon and keep walking."
Ichigo complied, though he lowered his head slightly as if in thought. "Why did this person tell you to bring me here? Why you? We don't know each other, do we?"
Shi gave a hearty laugh. "Yeah, we don't. Actually, to tell the truth, this person just wants to talk to you, and I brought you here so that it would come true. So you'd better listen to her, ya hear?"
Ichigo stared at Shi's retreating back as he followed silently.
Her...?
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"WHOA, THIS PLACE IS huge," Renji remarked as the group looked around, assessing their surroundings.
"I suggest we split up," Toushirou announced. "That way we'll have more chances of finding Kurosaki."
They nodded, and instantaneously, they broke into pairs.
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"TAICHOU!" RANGIKU EXCLAIMED IN an excited tone of voice. "Oh gosh, taichou!"
Toushirou twitched in annoyance. "What is it, Matsumoto?"
"Look!" She pointed at a lavish-looking building. "This world has its own boutique! Isn't that great? You know, I've been planning on doing a little shopping lately and—"
"Matsumoto..."
"Yes, taichou?"
"We are on a very important mission!" he scolded angrily. "Or have you forgotten that already?!"
Rangiku flinched. "But taichou..."
"No buts, Matsumoto! Focus."
Rangiku brightened. "Ne, taichou, I've heard about these vitamins in Ichigo's world that can actually make you grow taller in one week! Isn't that amazing?!"
Toushirou was twitching horribly now. "..."
"Taichou? Hey, wanna come with me to buy some—"
"Matsumoto."
"Yes, taichou?"
"Paperwork for a month."
"What?! Taichouuuuu!"
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"KOMAMURA-TAICHOU," SHUUHEI SAID, HALTING in his tracks.
"What is it, Hisagi?" Said person came to a stop beside the former with a curious look on his face.
"Something's coming..."
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"THEY'RE BLOCKING OUR WAY," Shinji said, his jaw clenched. "But... just what are they?"
Byakuya remained motionless. "I believe that they are sent here to prevent us from going further."
"What? That's it?" A grin slowly curled Shinji's lips. "Then I guess we'll have to force our way in, huh?"
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KENPACHI GRINNED MANIACALLY. "NOW this is more like it," he remarked, a tone of approval evident in his voice. "At first I thought that this mission would be boring, but it seems I was wrong."
"Go get 'em, Ken-chan!" Yachiru cheered.
"No need to tell me that!" Kenpachi yelled as he prepared to strike.
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RUKIA AND RENJI TOOK a wary step backwards as the enemies moved closer.
"We don't have time for this!" Rukia took out her zanpakutou. "Dance, Sode no Shirayuki!"
Renji did the same. "Howl, Zabimaru!"
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"WE'RE HERE."
Ichigo stopped to look at his surroundings. It was exactly the same as it was back in Karakura Town.
And then the memory came rushing back to him.
The little girl with dark hair and pale skin.
The rushing torrent of the river.
The blood spreading on the ground.
The familiar body on top of him.
"He's here now. I brought him." Shi's voice was quiet. "Now you can finally talk to him."
Ichigo stiffened as he felt a presence slowly coming up behind him.
Instinctively, he turned around—
—and found himself staring into the face which had haunted him in his dreams nine years ago.
"O—Okaa... san...?"
Part Two—End
A/N: Okaa-san means 'mother'.
So did any of you expect it? Maybe you did, and maybe you didn't. Anyway, the real battles will come next chapter along with Ichigo's conversation with his mother. WARNING: The real manga spoilers come in Part Three. Like I said back in Part One, read at your own risk.
As an additional note, this fanfic will take up at least 7 chapters. Yeah, I know. It's short. But I'll try my best to lengthen the fights. I'm not very good in action scenes, but... oh well.
Oh, and the description of the enemy comes in Part Three. I'm a lover of suspense. :3