Disclaimer: I still don't own bleach. If I did, Toshiro wouldn't be a zombie/dead right now. Humph!
I stared at the woman, confused. I heard her take in a sharp breath, and then release it slowly.
"You don't remember me?" She asked carefully.
"Should I?" I challenged.
She gazed intensely at me for a moment, and then shook her head sadly, gesturing for me to come in. I watched her warily for a moment, and then stepped in. I gazed around intently, taking in the environment. I found all the exit routes and made a map in my mind while following her blankly to the kitchen. She eased herself down and gestured for me to sit. I sat politely, some unknown instinct rising in me and taking over. She put up a smile and poured me a glass of tea, handing me the cup. She gestured to the mound of watermelon.
"You can call me granny. I was just having a snack. Help yourself." She said in an odd tone of voice. I believe they called it kind?
"No thank you." I said stiffly, fully aware of the growing need for souls.
She gave a sagely nod. One that told me she knew I was trying to be polite and not eat her. She knew. She sipped the tea in a way even Hallibel would admire, as she was into that kind of thing. I politely sipped my tea as well. I didn't want to eat this one. It was a different feeling than ever before. I knew there was no possible way this was the fabled caring that Aizen and the Espada spoke of on occasion. I could be put to death if I had such worthless feelings.
"The tea was nice, and I apologize if I come off as rude, but I need to go." I told her, standing.
She gave me that sagely nod again. The one that told me she knew. I padded silently over to the door, reaching out to open it. The door slid open just before I reached it. A short girl with black hair and eyes stood there. She wore a Shinigami uniform, with a lieutenant badge on her arm. Behind her stood another short girl, with raven hair and dark grey eyes. She also wore a Shinigami uniform and lieutenant badge. They both stared at me wide eyes. As I assessed them they seemed to assess me. We finished at the same time and I flash-stepped away from them, hand on my hilt.
"Oh, Momo, Karin, how nice of you to stop by. Toshiro here was just leaving." 'Granny' said, smiling widely at them.
I frowned as she called me Toshiro again and shot her a glare. I moved my hand away from my hilt, taking the hint from 'Granny' though. It was against my every instinct, but I held my hand out to them. I couldn't believe that the old woman had this much power over me. It was ridiculous. I shook my head, trying to clear it, and scowled at the girls.
"Prueba dragón de, Cero Espada." I introduced myself. The raven haired girl moved first.
"Kurosaki Karin, Lieutenant of squad ten." Kurosaki said, smiling at me.
She took my hand, shaking it heartily. She gave a subtle glance to her friend and then smiled at me again. She then moved back, releasing my hand and grabbing her friends shoulder. Kurosaki gave her friend a small shove, and the girl moved forward, twiddling her thumbs.
"M-M-M-my name is H-H-Hinimori M-Momo, nice to meet you." She stammered, reaching her hand out and taking mine.
Hinimori caressed my hand, whereas Kurosaki had roughly shaken. The difference was large, but I understood how they could be friends. It was most likely something akin to Ulquiorra and Grimmjows relationship, except more… human. I couldn't believe they weren't attacking me just because a old woman (indirectly) told them not to.
"I need to go." I stated uncomfortably, turning to the back door.
"But we just met. We should get to know each other at least a little bit before we depart, or how could we be friends?" Kurosaki stated, stepping in front of the door I had been heading for.
"I am an Espada and you are a Shinigami. We aren't friends and never will be." I growled, moving to go around her.
"Not with that attitude." She grumped, side-stepping to get in my way again. "Why don't you give us a chance?"
I glared resolutely at her. This girl was too stubborn for her own good. In fact, the Kurosakis were all like that. If I were to take her hostage, I could give her to Aizen and we could get Ichigo Kurosaki to give in. But somehow, I couldn't imagine myself doing that. I sighed deeply, frustrated. I needed to get my priorities straight. I didn't want to get confused about which side I was on and get attacked by both. This was a war, and Lord Aizen was going to win. I needed to be on the winning side in order to stay alive. It was natural instinct.
"Listen, and listen well. I have broken enough rules for today. I don't particularly like the consequences of what I've done. The punishment is horrible for disobeying Lord Aizen. So just move, okay?" I snarled at her, my nerves getting the better of me.
Her face had fallen the second I had said Lord Aizen, and I was happy she had remembered the barriers we had. It could be catastrophic if I were to develop an attachment to something meant to be destroyed in the new world. I would ask Lord Aizen for it, and he would ask how I knew them, and then the punishment would be dished out three times as bad as normal. I shuddered as I walked casually through the door. I had asked for a temporary leave, and if I didn't take advantage I would live a hell. Not that I didn't already. I would probably never get a chance to relax again after this what with the war going on. I only hoped I didn't draw to much attention. I didn't want the Shinigami biting at my heels on my only time off.
I glanced back as a sing-song bye was said from the porch, along with a see you later. I shrugged it off though, heading a random direction. I decided to go the opposite way of my gut feeling, seeing as I could have gotten in a lot of trouble from the last one. I found myself entering higher and higher class neighborhoods. I must have known myself so well my gut feeling lied and told me to go the other way because my body knew I would go this way. Walking along, things started to get familiar. I saw a wall in the distance, and despite myself I was filled with curiosity.
I couldn't believe that I was wondering what it was. It obviously led to the soul society, the nest of the Shinigami. I scowled deeply. The Shinigami were like rats. At least most of them were rats. There were also canaries though. An example would be the girls I had met today. But canaries were destined to either sing in a cage or be eaten by the cat. I sighed. I almost wished I didn't have to be the cat. But there was no way I would defy Lord Aizen. I couldn't bear to listen to the over-stuffed fools that lived in the soul society. If they could, they would most likely fight themselves and split apart until the entire spiritual world was chaos. The old woman had a wisdom I admired, but she would be gone once the Shinigami were defeated.
I headed in that direction and soon found myself in front of a massive wall. After placing my hand on it, I could tell it was made of sekkiseki enforced with kido. I couldn't help but marvel at it for a moment, and then blew a hole in it. I sonído to the closest place and hid as Shinigami came running. A few caught his eye. There was a familiar strawberry blonde woman, perhaps the one from my dreams. I could see her sleeping on a couch, helping me fight, showing me a red haired male. Then there was the red haired male, taking my paperwork to other divisions for me, picking fights, and working next to a long black haired man.
Then there was the man with long black hair. I could see him standing straight and stiff, fighting with sakura petals, acting extremely overprotective of a girl, his …sister? There was a woman near him with shorter hair, being led to her execution, fighting hollows, kissing the orange haired male. He fit the description as Ichigo Kurosaki. Suddenly he was next to me and we were… fighting Aizen? I fell out of the tree in surprise. That couldn't have been me because I would never go against Aizen and never had. Or had I? My mind jumbled and crashed, but I couldn't figure it out. Who was I again? Where was I?
I didn't even notice the crowd standing around me in shock.
A/N: It took a lot of effort to do this chappy, and I'm sorry it isn't the full 2000 words. Its only 1500. But I think the cliffie was good. It was wasn't it? :)
Anyways, I have this new method that helps me finish chappys in a month or less. I hope you enjoyed it!