I continued to stare at Ichigo and the small new girl with black hair as I stood in the doorway of his classroom. Everyone was just treating her so normally, like they've known her for a while- well besides Ichigo that is. He actually seemed rather confused by her presence. Speaking of Ichigo…
"Something is off, Kame. That girl… she's gotta be the same girl that showed up with that Hollow's presence last night. She's a Soul Reaper. There's not a doubt in my mind. But Ichigo… Ichigo is different…"
"Ah yes I sense that too. It seems that he too is a Soul Reaper- but he must be a substitute one when you consider the circumstances."
I felt my eyes widen.
What?
"Why good morning, Nori!" I sidestepped the form of a flying Keigo and walked over to Ichigo as he lay there whining about how I was so mean to him.
"So Ichigo," I jabbed my elbow into his ribs, "Who's your new friend?"
"Ah-? Nori? What are you doing here? Don't you have class?"
I looked up at him with an are-you-stupid look, "It's my last year, smart stuff. All I really have to do is study for those stupid college entrance exams, the teachers don't really care. But anyway, back to what I asked you earlier."
"Hi I'm Kuchiki Rukia." The mystery girl stepped up to me and smiled.
I smiled too because you know- it's nice to be taller than someone for once, "Hey there I'm Ishikawa Nori. Just call me Nori though. It's nice to meet you." I turned back to Ichigo and waggled my eyebrow, "So is there anything you want to tell me about, sir?"
It was an honest question. I wasn't just attempting to make fun of him- okay a little bit- but I also had the double meaning of him being a Soul Reaper. He didn't look like he really knew how to react so I focused my attention on Rukia again.
"So you're the new second year I've been hearing about, yeah? Whatcha doing hanging out with a loser like this guy?" I put one hand on my hip and jabbed my thumb in his direction.
Rukia opened her mouth to answer but Ichigo cut her off. "What do you mean 'loser', Grandma?"
My eye visibly twitched and I stomped on his foot. Ichigo let out string of curse words while Rukia laughed at his expense. I couldn't help but chuckle a bit. We had an odd relationship, as I do with all of my friends, but we actually got along pretty well.
I had met Ichigo the same day I met Orihime and Uryu. I had been in my study hall when those three punks that had tried to jump me earlier that morning showed up. They of course recognized me and were just asking to get beat into their graves when they started calling me names; I refuse to be called 'Pirate Eye' and not do anything about it. Then right before I was about to lay them out, Ichigo pops out of nowhere and straightens them out for me.
It was only understandable that I was a little peeved with him for taking my fight, but I could see that he had good intentions. It was only necessary that I stomp on his foot to show my appreciation in my own way. Despite us calling each other a few names after that, I called him a 'neon bitch' and he referred to me as 'Grandma', we became unlikely friends.
"Oh my gracious that was a whole entire year ago. I'm getting old." I whined in my head to Kame as Orihime came over to talk to Rukia.
"You're getting old? Then what does that make me? I have lived longer all of the people in this room combined."
"Hi Chad," I ignored Kame's comment and greeted Chad without even turning around.
I didn't waste a whole year sitting around doing nothing. Urahara knows how to make me work; I can't complain though. He gets results. Even Kame noted how much I've improved with my abilities.
"Morning," Chad greeted me with his trademark few words then took a seat.
"Well," I started loudly to get all their attentions and stretched like a cat, "I suppose that I should get going on my way guys. I'll see all of you later. It was nice meeting you Rukia and I'm sorry you have to deal with Ichigo!"
There was a chorus of 'byes' as I waved on my way out of the classroom.
"Nori!" Kame's warning boomed through my head.
"I know. I know." I winced slightly in pain from Kame's loud and panicky voice as I walked faster.
I could feel it behind me; breathing louder and getting even closer no matter how much faster I walked. The vibrations that danced on the bottom of my feet showed me it was catching up. Electricity in the air that plucked at my skin told me I was running out of time. The very feeling of the impending doom that was in the dark behind me even screamed danger.
This Hollow wasn't anything like the little one that I disposed of last week; but it wasn't quite like the giant one that terrorized the streets shortly before Rukia showed up either. I was going to have to think things through carefully with this Hollow.
"Oh this one is going to taste delicious I bet."
I abruptly stopped when I heard that creepy voice. It was too close for my comfort. I spun around to face the beast, and what I saw wasn't pretty.
A squatted down hollow with gigantic arms and stout legs. Even with the way he stood he was still exceptionally tall compared to any Hollows I've seen personally; I'd say about 15 to 20 feet. The white mask that adorned his face looked like the devil's face, complete with two horns on the top.
"So now you choose to acknowledge me. Most humans would just run. You're an odd human for wanting a Hollow to be the last thing you see before you die!"
I jumped out of the way as one of his giant fists came down and left a small crater where I had been standing.
"I see. You're going to make me work for my meal! If that's how you want it!" He swept one of his hands towards me.
"Nori!"
"Not right now, Kame!"
It happened too fast for me to get out of the way, so I did the next best thing. I dug my feet into the ground, stuck my arms out, and braced myself in an attempt to catch his hand.
His fist hit my hands with such force it knocked the breath out of me and I skidded about two feet. Luckily the hit didn't throw me into any nearby buildings. I had hoped the Hollow would be deterred by my actions, but I got the opposite of that.
"You may be small and not have much speed. But I see you have strength. Too bad I'm going to kill you!" He bellowed out in a weird mix of laughter and yelling.
I was frozen in place; the fist of his that I had caught was still pushing against me. If I moved in an effort to get away from it I would be too slow and he'd succeed in throwing me into a building. I couldn't use my powers either- it'd attract way too much unneeded attention and I ran the risk of someone seeing. But if I didn't move or try to get away…
The Hollow bellowed out more laughter at his cruel joke. From the corner of my eye I could see him raising his other fist in preparations to swing it at me too. Kame was yelling and screaming in the back of my mind. My head was starting to sweat from both the effort of holding his first fist where it was and nervousness.
My ears started to ring.
He was going to pop the very life out of me by squishing me in between his fists. I was going to pop like a pimple.
Everything started to happen in slow motion.
His fist began its descent towards me.
It got closer.
I was going to die.
And suddenly it was… gone?
"AHHH! You son of a bitch!" The Hollow feel backwards onto the ground and so did I.
"Come on, Nori!" Some girl was screaming at me… trying to pull me away from the Hollow that was now missing an arm.
A boy with shocking orange hair holding a large sword landed on the ground in front of me.
What?
Everything suddenly sped up to normal speed.
"-ave to move out of the way so Ichigo can take care of it." I looked up to see Rukia.
"Oh- okay." I allowed her to half drag me and half walk me a few yards away from the Hollow and Ichigo. I was still in too much shock from the near death experience to properly function.
"Are you okay, Nori?"
I looked at her and gave her a half smile, "I'm as okay as a person that just barely escaped death can be."
"I know it's hard to believe that something like that exists but it's a-"
"Hollow. And you and Ichigo are Soul Reapers." I finished for her.
My eyes registered the shock on her face, "How do you know?"
By the time I had finished explaining everything to the small Soul Reaper Ichigo had finished off the giant hollow and was walking back over to us.
"Hey Rukia, I-" he stopped short when he saw both of our expressions, "What's wrong?"
Needless to say, Ichigo was surprised to hear the news and his face showed it as Rukia relayed the information that I had just given to her. Then after it all registered he was slightly pissed that I knew all about this cool stuff before he did.
"No." Everyone looked at my response in wonder. "I'm not going to let someone just take Rukia like that. Not without a fight."
I had grown close to Rukia while she was here in the Living World. We bonded over people insulting our drawing skills and making fun of Ichigo. She even gave me a few pointers on fighting and Hollows and I showed her some new moves that would be easier for her to use in her gigai.
Despite my hard exterior and 'tough love' ways, all of my friends were dear to me. I wasn't about to just someone take her like that and make void in my heart.
Ichigo nodded and the whole group listened intently "That's why I'm going to go save her."
I looked at everyone's faces. Chad's, Orihime's, and Uryu's. "And you're not going to do it alone. We'll have your back the whole time."