Karakura Town
June 4, 1954
"Damn it!" I screamed, hitting the wall next to me. I attracted several stares from the people around me; but honestly, I didn't care. I attracted a lot of stares wherever I went, 'changing' my personality every once in awhile. Man, I think I need to have a word with the Research Department about our gikongon.
But the reason I was so mad was because I had just received more orders. And here I was thinking I was going to get to go home. So much for that idea. I read letter carefully again, hoping that I had just misread it. Nope. Plain as day, it said:
"4th Seat of the Thirteenth Squad, Mamori Nazeka, you have been issued another order. You are required to secure the wellbeing of the souls located within the parts of both area 53.39 and area 53.40 for one week. Your perimeter is 200-Ken. Report back to Lieutenant of the Thirteenth Squad, Shiba Kaien after your mission immediately."
I groaned, hanging my head. Why, why, why did I have to get yet another assignment? I've been here for a month and a half. I'm sick of living in a gigai! I just about crumpled up the piece of paper, but remembered that I had to return it. I wrote, "Confirmed," on the back and handed it back to the hell butterfly… once again attracting stares. After all, the piece of paper I just folded up and handed to no one had just disappeared.
A kid walked up to me and tugged on my shirt, asking shyly, "Um, 'scuse me, but are you a magician?"
I groaned inwardly again and crouched to his height, ruffling his hair and putting on a smile, "That's right. And I would perform for you right now if it wasn't for the fact that I have to go somewhere right now. I'm sorry."
"That's okay, oniisan. But I'd love to see you perform later!"
"I don't know kid, I'll only be here for another week, and then I'm leaving," I shrugged as I stood back up.
"Where?"
"Back to my home."
"Where's that?"
Just as I was about to answer, "Far away," his dad came up and grabbed his hand saying, "Now, now, no need to keep asking her questions." He looked at me, "Sorry to bother you."
"Oh, it's no big deal. I really don't wanna go, so killing a little time is nice," I said, grinning and putting my hands behind my head. He grinned as well, "I know the feeling."
"But even so, I really ought to get going. I don't want my higher ups getting upset with me."
"Alright."
I crouched down to the little boy's height again and smiled, "I'm sure we'll meet again." He nodded and waved as I stood up, saying, "Okay, I'll see you later then."
I nodded to the dad and ran off towards area 53.39, the high school—my old high school. OH. CRAP. Never in my life or afterlife would I have wanted to go back, and look at this, I have to go back to protect it. Yippee.
Karakura Town
June 11, 1954
Just one more day until I could go home… Of course, it had to be the day that something horrible happened.
I had been hanging around the school again. It hadn't changed much, but of course, I don't see why it should have. But after a few hours of boredom (it's contagious in a school yard) I went to the market to buy some food. I had just about made it there, when I saw the same little boy and father there.
"Hey there! See, I told you I would see you again," I tapped the little boy's shoulder, but when he turned around, I gasped and saw that a chain was protruding from his chest. His father turned around too, and I saw a chain on his chest too.
The little boy stared at me, "You… you can see us?"
I nodded sadly, "What happened? How did you…?"
"Have you ever heard of Jiinto Satsugaisha?" The father asked, putting his hand on his son's head.
"The mass murderer? I thought he was dead."
"Apparently that was what the government told us to make us stop worrying about it. But he's still at large. In fact—"
"—He murdered you guys." I finished, and the man nodded. The little boy started crying, so I kneeled to his height and put my hand on his shoulder, "You were so young… I'm sorry. Hey now, don't cry. Would you mind telling me your name?"
"H-Hayato."
"Okay, Hayato, I'll help you guys out, I promise. Would you mind coming with me?" I looked up at his father. He nodded and added, "What's your name? My name is Kenji Saikijuuou."
"My name is Nazeka Mamori. I'm actually here to help people like you. If you would please come with me, it would be a lot easier. There're just too many people."
"Of course."
I took them over toward the school, where there was no one outside to see. I put my gikon pill in my mouth, swallowed, and popped out of my body. The little boy smiled and laughed, clapping his hands, "That was cool! Do it again, do it again!"
"What are you?" Mr. Saikijuuou asked. I smiled reassuringly, "I'm a shinigami. I've been assigned to help souls like you pass on."
"So, you're not a magician?"
"No, sorry. But seeing as we're probably going to have a major flux in souls because of that murderer, I'm going to find him and take care of him."
"You're going to kill a murderer?"
"He can't see me, so why not? He'll be sent to Hell and that'll be the end of it. Anyway, it's time for you guys to move on. You'll be sent to the Soul Society, where all souls go to when they die if they lived a good life. It's really nice there. I live there as well."
"I don't wanna go!" Hayato cried, hiding behind his dad.
"Well, I'm sorry, but you have to. You're in danger here. A Hollow could come and eat you. We don't want that to happen."
"Eat me!" He squealed, digging his face into the back of his dad's pants. I looked up at Mr. Saikijuuou, "Will you please talk to him. Both of you are in danger."
"I'm not sure I want to trust you about that whole 'eating' business. What the hell is a Hollow?"
"A soul that has been overcome by immense anger or sadness. Hollows can eat souls and the souls that they eat in turn become Hollows. I'm sure you don't want to become a Hollow. Then I'll have to exorcise you."
"Exorcise? Does that mean we'll—"
"It means your soul will be cleansed and you will be sent to the Soul Society. Now, will you please stand still so I can perform a konso?"
"A what?"
"It takes you to the Soul Society. Please stop asking questions. I would like to get this over with so I can take care of that murderer. One question: where did you last see him?"
"He was over by the Kazai Living District."
"Kazai! Anyway, please, let me perform a konso." Why did that sound so familiar? Where had I heard Kazai before?
Mr. Saikijuuou pulled his son out from behind him and held still. I drew my zanpakutou and tapped him on the forehead with the back of the hilt. He turned light blue and disappeared into a Hell butterfly. Poor Hayato started to cry, so I knelt down at his side, "It's okay. Here, it doesn't hurt."
He nodded, sniffling, "Will I see you again?"
"Of course," I tapped his forehead and off he went. The only thing I had to do was find that murderer. Easier said than done. The Kazai district was supposed to be large… But, since it was a living district, I should be able to find him.
I jumped up onto one of the nearby buildings, commanding my gigai to go there too. After crossing multiple roofs, going through alleyways, and performing a few extra konsos (apparently, I'm attracting ghosts), I finally reached my destination. The Kazai district is one of the largest and most wealthy, a perfect place for a mass murderer.
I sent my gigai around the streets while I patrolled the roofs. So… how was I supposed to lure out a mass murderer? The sun was setting, and I had to go back tomorrow, so I had a limited amount of time to take care of this Jiinto Satsugaisha.
Night fell without any activity. I hopped from building to building. Everyone was inside without any problems it seemed. I went to the final building—which was an apartment complex—and looked inside the first room. It was empty, but it showed signs of life, so I moved onto the next one, and the next one, and the next one, with the same results. I had one more room to look into, so I looked into there too.
No one was inside, but… I recognized everything. The entire room was taped off, with everything protected by police coverings… and blood everywhere on the far wall. This… This is my… This was my apartment when I was alive. And that blood… that blood is mine!
"That would happen to be why the name Kazai sounded familiar. You lived here."
I completely forgot. My memories have been steadily fading the more time I've lived in Soul Society. That blood… is from my death, when that Hollow killed me. But, I would've figured that the Police would've at least cleaned it up and allowed people to live here again.
"Not necessarily. Your case can't exactly be explained by any normal means. So, they're probably still trying to solve it."
I guess. Anyway, do you have any ideas?
Immediately after, I felt a change in spiritual pressure. I looked to my right, where another apartment complex was and traced whatever had disturbed the normal flow. Chains had been cut. That's what it was, which means… Someone was killed!
I jumped over to that apartment and stepped through the wall—a technique that was basic, but I didn't like to use it, since it made me feel really weird. A huge, brawny man with thinning, oily black hair and sunken eyes was holding a woman by the neck, knife raised. Two bloody bodies lay motionless on the floor behind him—the bodies of a man and a young girl about the age of seven.
"Damn it," I muttered, staring at the ghosts of the same people. They were cowering in a corner, the man protecting his daughter.
The murderer glanced over in my direction and a look of amusement crossed his face, a little more wickedly than before.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A girl coming to save the day? How touching. I bet you don't even know these people."
"You can see me!" I asked in disbelief. No way! That means he can touch me, and then… aw damn it!
"Relax, calm down. He's a human. He's had no experience in fighting spiritual beings. He's just like you when you were alive. You have more power than him. Besides, he just has a knife and you have me."
But that means he can see the other two souls and can use them.
"But if you perform a konso, then he won't be able to reach them."
Good idea. But first, I'm going to have to take care of the woman.
I drew my zanpakutou and brought it down on the man's arm, slicing it clean off. He roared in pain and backed away, raising his knife again. I ran to the other souls, "Please, I will take you two away from here, where you will be safe. Hold still." I quickly raised my blade and tapped them on the forehead, making them disappear. But before I could stand back up, I felt a sharp pain in my shoulder and I twisted around, seeing the murderer with his knife. He gave a twisted smirk and raised his knife again, but I swung at him, catching his arm with my blade.
I grabbed his shirt and pressed my hand against his chest, reaching deep inside and grabbing his chain. He panicked, stabbing my shoulder several more times before cutting me across the cheek and at the collarbone. I pulled his soul out and watched as his body crumpled to the floor, completely lifeless. Still holding onto his chain, I raised my zanpakutou, "Ready to go to Hell?"
"Bitch!" He screamed, raising his arm that had once held the knife, but realizing that the knife hadn't come with him, he brought it down on my collarbone and I felt something crack. I swiftly swung at his chain and cut it straight through; I watched as the gates of Hell opened up and sucked him in. The woman who was still alive was already crouching by the bodies of her husband and daughter, screaming.
There was nothing I could do for her, so I simply left, checking my injuries. A few cuts on my right shoulder, a cut on my cheek, a stab mark on the back of my left shoulder, stab marks all along my left arm, and a cracked collarbone—thankfully not broken. The pain was so much different from when I had been at the academy, and when I had been on other missions, I had never been hurt. This was completely new to me.
I wandered over to where I had spent the previous nights—on a roof of one of the houses by the school—and wrapped my wounds. I was just about to lay down to sleep when a Hell butterfly found me, with a red piece of paper—a sign of emergency. I grabbed it and read it quickly:
"4th Seat of the Thirteenth Squad, Mamori Nazeka, Captain of the Thirteenth Squad, Ukitake Juushirou, has asked you to return immediately. This request is non-negotiable and immediate. You will return to the Soul Society now."
"Why would he want me back now?" I asked myself, and handed it back to the Hell butterfly, opening the Senkaimon and going back. The shinigami at the gate welcomed me and said that I should hurry to the barracks. I nodded, concerned, and sprinted to the barracks as fast as I could.
I went straight to Ukitake-taicho's office, where he was waiting. I shut the door behind me and quickly asked, "Taicho, what's wrong? Why was I called back so suddenly?"
"Nazeka… we have some bad news."
"What?"
"Kaien… Kaien is dead."
The news hit me like a blow to the gut. Kaien-dono was dead? That couldn't be possible… no, not Kaien-dono!
"H-How? How did Kaien-dono die!"
"Miyako was murdered by a Hollow, including her whole platoon—"
"—Our third seat was killed?"
"Yes. And Kaien wanted to kill the Hollow that had killed her, even when I warned him that the Hollow had special abilities. He went anyway, and Rukia and I accompanied him. We went to it's lair—which was here in the Soul Society—and Kaien wanted to go alone, so I let him. His zanpakutou was destroyed, and the Hollow combined with him, knocking Kaien unconscious and using his body to kill both me and Rukia. I told Rukia to run, but I had a tuberculosis attack then, so she came back. She killed Kaien, since there was no way to separate him from the Hollow because they were both spiritual beings."
"So, we had to kill him…"
"I'm sorry Nazeka, I know you and Kaien were good friends."
"I-It's o-okay," I could feel myself breaking; tears welled up in my eyes and I knew I was going to cry any time, so I forced myself to hold it together.
"Nazeka," Ukitake rested his hand on my shoulder, "It's not okay. And it's okay to cry sometimes, you know. I'll take you off the next mission I had ready for you to let you recover from this, okay?"
"Th-Thank you, T-Taicho," I whimpered. I knew it was coming, but I tried hard to keep it back.
"You may return to your room if you would like."
"Th-Thank you, Taicho."
"Stop the formalities."
"Thank you, Ukitake," I whimpered, and ran to my room, where I shut the door and leaned against the wall, sliding down to the floor and letting my tears pour out.
"K-Kaien…"
13th Squad Barracks
Two days later
I sat on the porch outside my room with my hands folded on my knees. The fact that Kaien was dead was still painful; after all, it had only been two days since I had learned the news. I felt selfish to wish he was still here, but after Miyako had died, I suppose he would have wanted to be with her… wherever they were.
"Nazeka…"
I jumped; I hadn't even heard any footsteps, so I had no idea that someone else was standing beside me. I looked up, expecting it to be Ukitake, but when I saw the yukata, I knew I was wrong. Instead, it was Toushirou, his expression as solemn as ever.
"Hi, Toushirou," I said quietly, staring at the dirt again. He sat down next to me, "Ukitake asked me to come. He told me about Kaien-fukutaicho. I'm sorry. I know you two were good friends."
"Thanks, but it's okay. It wasn't your fault, so don't apologize."
He looked up at the sky and sighed, "Well, anyway, how about we get your mind off of it? You know, you've been pretty busy lately."
"I know. It's been really hectic. They've been giving me missions right and left. I come home from one, get three days to rest and do whatever, and then it's back again for another one."
"Must be tough. Oh, there was something I had been wanting to tell you. I just never had time to since you were gone."
"What is it?"
"Kusaka and I… we've been ordered to Central 46 in two weeks."
"Central 46? Why would they want you two?"
"I don't know."
"Do you think it has something to do with you two having the same zanpakutou?"
"I don't know."
"Alright…"
"I have one more thing I was going to tell you."
"Alright, shoot."
"I was going to tell you 'Happy Birthday'."
"Thanks. It's the thought that counts, even if it was a month ago." My birthday is April 30th, and I didn't really think about it at the time—I was too busy with missions.
We sat in silence for a while, and I suddenly felt something touch my hand. I looked down to see Toushirou's hand slide in between my own and interlock with my fingers. I smiled, but then I remembered Kaien… Thanks, Toushirou, but it didn't last long… I felt the tears well up in my eyes again, and I pulled away my hand, pulling up my knees and wrapping my arms around them. I dug my face into my lap and let the tears go.
"H-Hey, d-don't cry. Er… I mean… uh… Nazeka, please?" Toushirou put his hand on my shoulder and tried to stop my crying; but I just dug my face in farther.
"Please, Nazeka. There's nothing you can do and there's nothing you could have done. Kaien's with his wife now, so I'm sure he's happy… damn… please stop crying…"
I looked up at him and rubbed my eyes, trying to smile, "I'm sorry. I can't help it. It's just that Kaien was so much fun to be around, and now he won't be there to scold Sentaro or Kiyone when they get drunk or train Rukia and me, or even drag me into helping him with the paperwork… it'll just be so different without him."
"It's okay," I felt his arms wrap around me, and I complied without thinking. I tucked my head against his shoulder and heard him whisper, "I'm just glad you're back."
Captain's Room, 13th Squad Barracks
June 26th, 1954
"You… wanted to see me, taicho?" I asked, popping my head into the door of Ukitake's office. He waved me inside with the swish of his brush and began writing again. I shut the door behind me and stood in front of his desk, at full attention.
He looked up and laughed, "No need for that. I just called you in to tell you that Head-Captain Yamamoto has requested that you be at the next captain meeting tomorrow."
"T-Tomorrow? But I was going to—but sir, Toushirou has been called to Central 46 tomorrow and I—"
"I'm sorry, Nazeka, but Yamamoto-soutaicho's request is unchangeable. He wants to see you tomorrow for something very important, and it cannot be prolonged to another day. You'll just have to go see Toushirou tomorrow after his hearing."
"You make it sound like he's being imprisoned."
"He won't be, but that's what it's called. I would let you go see him now, but seeing as our third seat and lieutenant are no longer with us, you're the next person in line I can ask for helping me with paperwork."
"I—yes, sir. I understand…"
"Thank you."
We sat in silence for awhile, both of us doing our own stack of paperwork that we had dished out. After about halfway down through my stack, I was handed another group of papers, while Ukitake took several of the papers out of the middle of my stack, "I'm sure you don't want to fill out the paperwork about Kaien."
"Oh, thank you," I went back to filling out paperwork, "So… Ukitake-taicho, who do you think will fill in our third seat's position and our lieutenant?"
"I believe that Kotetsu and Kotsubaki would make excellent co-third seats. As for the lieutenant… I have someone in mind…"
"Really? Who?"
Just as he was about to answer, there was a knock on the door. While Ukitake went and answered it, I finished up my pile of papers and set down my brush.
"Ukitake-taicho, I'm finished. May I please go see—" My stomach growled, and I quickly wrapped my arms around my stomach, trying to muffle the sound, but that only made it worse.
"Why don't you go have dinner? They were making Teriyaki Udon Noodles tonight, and I know that's your favorite."
"Really! Alright!" I got up, bowed to Ukitake and ran out the door to the dining hall. There were already several shinigami in there, so I got in line and waited my turn patiently. After getting my meal—along with some Dragonwell tea—I sat down next to Rukia and began eating.
"Hey! How's it going?" I asked. She just played with her food and replied with a half-hearted, "Fine."
"Alright," I knew it was Kaien, so I didn't say anything about it. She was still a little touchy about the subject. So, I looked around the room and saw one of the newbies, "Hey, do you know who that is?"
"I believe that's Mizuko. She's new here. She and Mizuki from the Academy are brother and sister."
"Wow, talk about unoriginal parents."
"Hmph, they renamed themselves after they died."
"Oh… so it's not the parents' fault. I gotcha. Still… a bit unoriginal."
"If that's what you think…" She took the last few bites of her meal, picked up her dishes, and walked off. I sat there with my food alone… Jeez, thanks for leaving me… oh well. I suppose me and Rukia aren't the greatest friends…
"Hey, Mamori!"
I turned around to the sound of my name to see Kiyone and Sentarou waving, their other hands holding bottles and cups for sake. They ran over and sat on either side of me, setting down their bottles.
"You want some sake?" Sentarou asked, holding out a cup. I held up my hand in refusal and laughed, "You idiot, I'm underage."
"Not anymore you're not."
"Since when?"
"How old are you?"
"I don't remember. I don't even remember what year I was born."
"Think!" Kiyone and Sentarou pressed.
"All I know was that I was… fifteen? Yeah, I was fifteen when I got here."
"How many years has it been?"
"Um… let's see… seven? No, eight years."
"Right, so what's eight plus fifteen?"
"Er, 23?"
"Exactly! You're not underage anymore! You can drink as much as you like!" They handed me a cup and poured me some sake from one of the many bottles.
"But physically I'm still fifteen—"
"Mamori, that doesn't matter anymore. Just drink some."
"Okay, fine…" I took a sip of the alcoholic drink and immediately made a face. It tasted so different! I swallowed it and lifted the cup to my lips again. The two beside me started to fill their own cups and drink too.
We sat there and drank for a little while, they drinking much more than me. They emptied about five bottles each, while I only drank two bottles, but I could feel my head start to spin.
"I-I think I'm gonna go to bed now. Th-Thanks for the drink," I stood up a little wobbly, and they waved, their faces on the table with their hands still clutching the bottles and cups. I tried to walk as best I could, but it was so obvious I had had too much. After about thirty minutes—it usually only took five—I reached my room, and damn was I dizzy.
"I don't feel so good."
"Serves you right! What the hell were you drinking for? You wanna get wasted the night before you have to go to a Captain meeting? What is wrong with you, damn it!"
"Oh shit, I forgot about the meeting. Damn…" I moaned, shutting the door behind me.
"Good luck getting out of this mess."
"I'll figure *hic* something out. For now, I'm going to bed."
"Don't sleep in!"
"I know, I know!"
I fell onto the floor and went to sleep immediately, even though Syugoryuu spent the night scolding me in my head.
Oh wow, you know, the whole drinking thing wasn't planned… but, I had to have her do something… Anyway, sorry for the choppiness! Okay, and to be technical, Nazeka should be about 22, in actuality, but no one cares anymore. AND THERE WILL BE MORE TOUSHIROU FLUFF GOODNESS FOR THOSE WHO WANT IT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! (Any requests? Let me know. I enjoy reading your comments! Thanks!)