Chapter V: Gift
Another school day meant another lonesome day for Muramasa, which seemed like nothing since it was nothing new, but this time he had come to anticipate Orihime's return. His wound had long since healed and he found that going for daily walks served to ease his restless mind. The gigai given to him by Urahara allowed others who knew nothing of shinigamis and zanpakutous as well as the ever present hollows, to see him. This mattered little to him, as long as they did not disturb his temporary peace and not get tangled in another squabble such as the events before then there would be no trouble.
Unfortunately these walks that cleared his mind and allowed him to forget his worries had failed this time, instead they were in a silent rampage. He roamed the busy streets along with other pedestrians as they went about their day, with a hard and rather intimidating presence, making those that would occasionally glance at him wary and uncomfortable. Sometimes he would stare for an excessive amount of time, lost in his thoughts, making those in line of sight think they were the problem and scramble to stay clear out of his way. He sighed; one thought after another would just pile up and make new unwanted problems. He silently wondered what had caused him to deal with so much trouble.
Much has occurred, though the time may have been short, practically next to nothing, he has indeed changed since he was completely free from the duties as a zanpakutou. No longer was he sitting and listening to nothing in his inner world where he rightfully belonged, there was no expectations for him to meet, no voice that would summon his power instead he was walking down random paths and anticipating the exact time where he would go and meet with the one who asked nothing of him, held no invisible standards for him to work on or with alongside her, there was just nothing but the longing of filling the void within known as loneliness. Thus the problem, one that was never to rise in his life, sprouted and has become nothing but a burden to his conscious.
Muramasa was no fool; countless times he has seen the affectionate exchanges between two individuals whether it was from his own master or from others around Soul Society. It was nothing but a part of life, this was a fact and that was all but it was one that was not to occur with him. He who was nothing but a weapon, used only to fight against the enemies and so forth. That was all and that was how it should have been had it not been for his unique power to manifest his being into a physical body. The other zanpakutou that was influenced by it saw it as freedom from the confines of their swords, a chance to be their own person while such a thought did not bother him he never thought his own power would work against him in more than just one way. He found he couldn't help but curse at his master, but he couldn't play the blame game for much longer after all he was not under the command of any shinigami, therefore he would suffer his own consequence.
He stopped near a park bench and sat down to mull over his personal problem. Several times he's tried to find some other reason as to why he would feel this way; it could've just been something brotherly or perhaps that of friends and he wouldn't have to face these complicating issues of doubt clouding over his conscience. All would have been well if that thin line was not passed but there was no undoing what has been done and now those small feelings had turned into that of what one would call a crush.
Yes, he's heard of that term and now was subjected to it, much to his displeasure.
All because of that simple action that he was half aware of and now he was at a loss as to how to act towards the girl. Once again he let out a soft sigh and made his way to continue his restless walk and try to figure out how to handle these emotions that continued to swirl within him.
-X-X-X-
"Inoue, are you sure this is what you want to give him?" Uryuu asked with a rather unsure look on his face.
"Of course, Muramasa-san has been all gloomy ever since he came back with us here and I'm positive this will make things better with him! My brother would make things like this for me whenever I was sick or not in a good mood and it worked all the time!" She exclaimed happily all the while insistently pushing the piece of sketch paper at Uryuu's face. He continued to look at the drawing with a questioning look.
"Are you sure this isn't something you want?" He asked once more, still reluctant to believe that someone like Muramasa would actually like something so…child-like.
"Please, Ishida-kun! I'll even pay for any materials that you would need!" She begged.
"That won't be necessary, I do have the materials needed to make something like this and it won't be a challenge at all, but I do like to see my work not ripped to shreds." He muttered bitterly.
"Muramasa-san wouldn't do something like that! I'm sure he'll like it! I tried making one of my own that way it would be special but I'm not really good with making things like this and since you're so good at it, I figured you wouldn't mind."
"Well, I have no problem with it but if you're really set on this I suppose I'm not in any position to object. I'll do it as a favor for a friend." With that he studied the drawing with slight interest. Orihime squealed with delight at having successfully convinced her friend to help her.
"I'll have it done in class, so you can pick it up at the end of school."
"Thank you, Ishida-kun!" She smiled brightly and after talking a little more the bell rang signaling the time to return to their classes.
-X-X-X-
The wind blew slightly as Muramasa made his way to the high school trying his best to ignore the faint feeling of anticipation. Although despite the overly positive emotion he couldn't help but feel like a stranger whenever confronting one of Kurosaki's friends aside from Orihime of course.
Just as he came upon the building the final bell rang. Leaning against a nearby wall he waited and listened through all the chatter for Orihime. Some girls would glance his way and either giggle with their small group of friends or quickly scurry behind them at being caught looking at him. None of this seemed to bother him but he couldn't stop that scoff from escaping his lips, fortunately it was too silent to catch anyone's attention.
"Muramasa-san!" He quickly turned his head to the direction of the sweet voice that managed to make his heart beat just a little faster and his grim expression lighten considerably. Though she was not far away, he felt compelled to join her even though Tatsuki was right beside her. Her friend posed no problems but from time to time she would send him warning glances that would definitely make him uncomfortable when he appeared too close to her dear friend.
"Did you wait long?" She asked with an enthusiastic smile that seemed to know something he was unaware of which confused him.
"No." This just seemed to make her widen that grin all the more. Though slightly puzzled with her behavior he decided to ignore it and turned to say a silent greeting to her friend who returned it although it seemed cautioned.
"I'm sorry Hime-chan I have practice again." She patted her shoulder. "But I'll come by to visit you right after and help you with the homework assignment." She offered another apology before running off in the opposite direction leaving the two to walk home.
As they went their way, Muramasa watched Orihime from the corner of his eye; she looked quite happy and seemed to be refraining from something which only served to make him all the more curious as to what could be the cause of her sudden happiness.
Though the urge was present he decided to wait and question her when it seemed to right, for now he would leave it be.
Suddenly as they continued their walk there was a shift in the air around them making them both pause and as though it were a sound they waited but the air remained unchanged.
"It seems they've returned."
"Oh then we should go say hello to Kuchiki-san! I haven't seen her in a while." Clasping her hands together she quickly changed their path to head for where the young lady would most likely go to first.
Though it was supposed to be nothing Muramasa still felt intrigued by the girl even as she held onto the sleeve of his shirt to lead him to the rowdy home. He knew she was talking but he couldn't really comprehend what she was saying with the distraction of the warmth seeping through his clothing from where her hand was. Apparently she was rambling about some rabbit that she had gotten from her other friend, Ishida.
In no time at all they arrived and right on the dot. There at the front door Rukia stood, right as she was about to ring the doorbell she heard Orihime's call from a distance and turned to smile at her."
"Hime-chan, hello!" As Orihime came close enough she hugged her.
"How was everything?" She asked in delight. Rukia glanced at the male beside her; his expression was bland betraying nothing as he silently stood at a distance from the two.
"Everything went well.' She answered but Orihime and Muramasa didn't miss that small hint of sadness etched lightly within her voice.
"They have returned within their blades." He quietly stated making the two girls look at him. Rukia's expression didn't falter but her apparent sadness was just a little bit more noticeable.
"Yes they have."
"I see." He spoke no more and now instead of watching the two with curiosity he looked at nothing in particular until Karin opened the door to see what the whole commotion was and with just one glance at Rukia, she called out to Ichigo. There were several other sounds that had quickly followed the young man as he fought with his over enthusiastic father, making his siblings complain and thus what would've been a peaceful afternoon turned into chaos. Muramasa silently wondered how Zangetsu could handle all the insanity, given his calm composure. Perhaps this was why his inner world was all buildings with no definition of any direction.
His presence didn't seem to attract a lot of attention. Though they were in Ichigo's room, his younger sister, Yuzu, would come up bringing a small tray of snacks ranging from chips to sweets and so forth which all would occasionally snack on; Orihime had even placed a small plate of flan in front of him, probably knowing he wouldn't enter their little circle of conversation without some motivation. He looked at the sweet with a rather questioning expression; lifting it up and examining it with mild curiosity. He noticed then that it suddenly got quiet; he glanced around to see that all eyes were on him, even that annoying stuffed animal had shut its trap to glare at him.
He raised an eyebrow, silently questioning their sudden silence. Their faces gave nothing away, soon a couple of minutes passed and just as he was about to form words there was a sudden flash of light accompanied with what sounded like a click. He flinched, his eyes wide in confusion and temporary blindness. The look itself was priceless but as soon as he heard laughter he turned to look at the girl who was supposedly the cause of the flash. She held a small device within her hands and while still giggling she moved it to show Rukia who smiled at the picture.
Still rather lost Muramasa looked over at Ichigo with a tight frown.
"Here" He grabbed the camera from the giggling girls and showed what the sudden fuss was about and when he saw the image his confusion turned into a scowl; the picture of him with eyes wide with surprise while holding the plate of flan was just downright insulting. Even Ichigo seemed to hold in some of his own laughter at glancing at it. With the scowl till on his face he placed the sweet down onto the tray; whatever small appetite he had was killed by that small humiliation.
"I'm sorry Muramasa-san!" Orihime said, trying to recover from her small fit of laughter, the same couldn't be said for Rukia who still continued to laugh at him. Though she only meant to just get a picture of him as he was, he practically set himself up for it when he grabbed the plate at such timing.
"It's nothing." He mumbled bitterly, refusing to meet her gaze. Though he was still a little bothered, he felt warm. Nonetheless he left everything alone, not speaking unless spoken to and not touching anything. The conversation went on and when Orihime gave Rukia the rabbit doll she all but squealed and everything else was just consumed in the light atmosphere.
The pleasant visit soon came to an end when the afternoon began to blend into a starry night.
"Thank you for a great time. I actually over stayed my welcome." Orihime laughed sheepishly, nervously rubbing the back of her hand. "Oh and Muramasa-san is grateful too!" She added making him look at her with a rather perplexed expression.
"It was no trouble, the visit was actually fun." Ichigo smirked as he glanced at Muramasa who looked at him with an annoyed look that did nothing to deter the substitute shinigami.
Once again they made their way back home in silence.
"Are you still mad about the picture?" Orihime asked with a slightly worried look. He couldn't really find it in him to be mad but he was annoyed.
"No."
"You are." She sighed, but that didn't seem to change her small smile. "Here, maybe this could cheer you up." She reached into her bag and pulled out what looked to be a chibi replica of him. He took the little doll and looked at it with an unreadable expression. It was exactly as he was except with button eyes. It had a small frown, and the same fluff of fur that made up his collar of his shirt. The clothing was just as he was before going in the gigai. The design of the doll was just a miniature form of him with a small sword connected to its hand as though about to use it in combat. Though the nails looked more like claws it was made in complete detail to resemble him even having the bangs placed exactly over its face evenly.
He looked at her with yet another questioning gaze and she answered still with a smile on her face.
"I asked Ishida-kun to make it for me. You haven't really looked as though you were enjoying your time here and it was bothering me. Ah, but with Rukia returning it turned out to be even more fun but…" Now her smile turned into a small frown.
"I forgot to ask if you were having a good time." She glanced up at him and patiently waited for his answer.
He looked at the doll, quietly contemplating her question in the form of a statement and after a few seconds allowed a smile to form. He continued to look at his gift with adoration rather than question it even though it looked more suited for a child.
"Thank you." He whispered quietly that it may have been the wind but she managed to hear it. The grin slowly made its way back, her whole being filling with happiness that she had managed to make him smile. He stayed that way with the doll until there was another flash and he flinched.
The smile went away and now Orihime was staring at wide eyes and the ever present frown, she didn't now why it seemed so funny but she found herself laughing at his expression.
"I'm sorry!" She squeaked quickly shoving the camera in her bag after quickly looking at the image. Muramasa, however, didn't seem all that bothered enough to lose interest in the little doll for after that small flash he turned to the doll, though his smile was no longer present his eyes still held a certain shine to it.
It no longer felt awkward between the two, but as soon as they came back to the apartment just in time to see Tatsuki walk up to the door, thus the comforting silence turned into another conversation as the two chatted about what had happened making Tatsuki tease him relentlessly.
He allowed the two to enjoy their little chatter while working on their homework in peace by standing near the window all the while occupying his time in reading whatever there was and just listening to their little chatter. Though he had pride and it was indeed damaged a little due to earlier events and should have been even more damaged with walking around with a little doll of himself he found he couldn't find it in him to care, despite it seeming as a little odd.
As he listened and stared intently at his little gift the emotions within him began to well up again, both good and bad. He was fully aware of where he stood in this world and knew what was to come. The good and the bad were all a part of normal lives, but he was not any normal being a fact he couldn't quite come to terms with. Every sound seemed to blend into nothing as he quietly gave in to this feeling of mixed emotions. The anger, the hate, the longing, the sadness, all of the negatives but to him it was worth it to go through them when the outcome would be some kind of happiness, one that was enough to wipe away all the troubles.
"I'll accept you…as my new master, Hime-sama." He whispered quietly knowing that with all the chatter, she wouldn't hear.
-X-X-X-
A/N: Pretty sure I made a few mistakes and out of character things but I felt like writing something fluffy! X3 And I am proud of it! Don't lie you know there are some of you that wouldn't kill for a Muramasa plush toy or something like that! Although heh, it does seem a little conceited for him to have a little doll of himself I'm aware of it but I still find it cute!