Disclaimer: Yes, I own bleach and that is why I'm writing fanfiction (sarcastic voice). Obviously I don't own bleach or its characters.
I watched Rangiku. She was hunched over paperwork muttering to herself. Something was strangely off about the fact that she was doing paperwork. But I shook it off, stepping in front of her. She didn't notice me. I puffed my cheeks in annoyance and subconsciously, my reiatsu rose. Rangiku looked up in surprise, finally noticing me. As I relaxed, I put a cap on my untamed reiatsu. "Can I go on a walk?" I asked as sweetly as possible, using the puppy dog eyes on Rangiku. She tried to look away, but couldn't and ended up 'awing' at my face. She handed me a piece of the candy Ukitake had left and nodded. "Sure babe, have fun. I'll find you when I'm done with the paperwork." She said brightly before turning back to the paperwork and frowning. I left quickly, before Rangiku decided to change her mind. She was like that, where I would ask something, and a little after answering, if I was still in eyesight, she would change her mind. It could be worse though. I shrugged off the thought and instead thought about this last week.
After leaving with Rangiku, someone had insulted me and made me upset. Rangiku had flinched and crouched to my eye level. She had explained about reiatsu, and how I had a lot, before teaching me how to control it. She refused to teach me anything else though. Also, she wouldn't let me in her room. At first, I had thought it was a woman thing, but then I had felt something calling me from there. I had tried to sneak in, but she caught me every time. It had been annoying… until I had found the academy on one of my walks. I had quickly learned the schedule and usually came to watch the kido practice. After, I would go to the cave in Sōkyoku hill and practice what I had 'learned'. All the while telling Rangiku I was taking long walks to help me think. It wasn't a complete lie.
I walked casually to the academy, hoping I wasn't late. Thankfully, I arrived just in the nick of time. The class started and I watched how the teacher performed the kido and then the students practicing. I scoffed at the ridiculousness of it. It was a simple level 30 hado, and these students, fifth years, were barely making a spark. The hado they were practicing was number 31, Shakkahō. When I had first saw it, after watching for a long time, I had run to the caves and mastered the hado in that very day. It looked like these students were going to take months to master this measly hado. I scoffed again for good measure and slunk away from the Academy, instead heading for the cave under Sōkyoku hill. I couldn't believe that these students would be shinigami as long as they got a zanpakto.
I arrived at the cave quickly and headed in. Only a few people knew of this place, and I was proud to be one of those few. I went quickly to my training, forgetting about the date I had set with Rangiku. "Hado 63: Raikouhou!" I exclaimed, sweat dripping down my face as lightning shot towards the target, obliterating it. I let out a small sigh as I watched the dust settle, and then a yelp. Because I was face to face with Rangiku Matsumoto, and she looked angry as all get out.
"O-o-oh, Rangiku-san, what a surprise." I stammered at her rage filled face. In fact, I could sense others at the entrance, watching. Her eyes narrowed even more if it was possible. "What was that I just saw?" She asked in a calm voice. Like the calm before a storm. "I was just, you know… practicing kido?" It came out as more of a question than a statement. Rangiku nodded to herself for a moment, looking me up and down. No doubt thinking of a suitable punishment for me. "I see." She finally said tartly. "Urahara said something like this would happen, but I didn't want to believe it." She growled more to herself than me. I took this as my cue, turning to Urahara and raising an eyebrow. Rangiku reached out and grabbed my hand firmly. "Let's go for a walk." Her voice had become relaxed, less hostile. I nodded and walked at the same pace as Rangiku by taking long strides instead of short steps.
Rangiku walked with me for a while. I could tell, we were getting closer to the Academy. I was getting more nervous by the second by the unnatural silence between us. However, when we got to the academy, Rangiku went around the offices. She lead me to the training grounds and then past that. Finally, we stopped just in front of a cave mouth. It felt so… right, being here. I looked to Rangiku for answers to the questions buzzing around my head. She sighed deeply and ran a hand through her long hair. "There's a present for you inside." She told me. Before I could ask her what she meant, she disappeared in a flash-step. She was heading to the barracks, but she had had a resigned look on her face just before she left.
I shrugged it off with a sigh. If there was a present down in the cave, then I would go get it. Besides… I could feel that voice calling me, softly, in the recesses of my mind. I headed down the tunnel quickly, feeling the pull get stronger every step I took. The tunnel dipped down into naturally occurring stairs, and I hurried down them. Now I was eager to see the present Rangiku had gotten me. The cave itself was beautiful. There was a small lake to the side with vegetation growing around it. To the side, there was a plain of rocks. There were larger rocks laying around at random locations, but I was attracted to the one by the lake. As I walked over, my 'present' came into view. I instantly knew, seeing it, that it was not something one could just get. Lying on the stone in front of the lake was a beautiful blade. It had a turquoise sheath and a gold cross-shaped guard. I reached out slowly, relishing in the feel it gave me and closing my eyes. It made me feel safe and secure, like I was engulfed in a hug from a mother that had been missing me.
That's when I heard the voice, louder than ever before. "Master, are you prepared to retake your memories?" A deep rumbling voice asked me. I opened my eyes to look right into ruby red ones. A large ice dragon stood before me, looking down on me with his wings outstretched on an icy plain, mountains seen in the distance along with a lake. For a moment I thought about it, before nodding. "No one has told me anything about my past, but I know they know something. You're going to reveal that to me?" I asked carefully, not wanting to anger him. "Master, I will never leave you in the dark. It would do more good than harm to reveal the past to you." The dragon told me, his voice thundering around the icy plain. I nodded. "Then yes, I would like to know my past." I answered him, my voice sure. The dragon gave a nod. And then darkness enveloped me.
I sighed deeply as Momo let a large smile across her face. "What's wrong, Shiro-chan?" She asked brightly. Instantly, I snapped on reflex. "It's Hitsugaya, Bed-wetter Momo!" I shouted at her. A pout made its way across her face as she turned to me fully. "Mou, I don't wet the bed anymore, Shiro-chan. Don't call me that!" She exclaimed, trying her best to look angry at me. I rolled my eyes and spit watermelon seeds at her. "When you stop calling me Shiro-chan, I'll stop calling you bed-wetter." I told her, scowling. She batted at the watermelon seeds flying her way, trying to keep them away. After a watermelon seed spitting battle, Momo let out a small laugh and laid on her back, staring at the stars. The sky had gone dark, the stars shining brightly.
"Come on Toshiro, Momo, it's time to come inside." Granny called from the doorway, gesturing us in. I rolled my eyes again, but came in; after all, I knew Granny was just worried about us. It was relatively safe, even at night, since we lived in the first district of West Rukongai, but there were still some crime, so Granny was cautious. Momo was innocent and generally believed anything told to her, so we couldn't trust her not to walk away with a stranger after hearing their sob-stories. We arrived quickly at the small, well-kept hut backdoor were we lived with our granny. Momo dragged me in, running into the embrace of Granny. "Baka bed-wetter, we didn't need to run." I said snappishly to Momo. Again, a pout spread across her face. "I don't wet the bed! And I'm not a baka!" She said, using her arms to gesture and try to explain to me. I hid the laugh that was bubbling up at her reaction, instead whacking her upside the head. "Mou, you're going to hit someone!" I exclaimed, pointing to her flailing arms that were dangerously close to Granny.
"Now now, it's time for bed you two." Granny said gently, directing us towards our futons. I glared at the flat, hard roll, my thoughts on dreams. "I'm not tired Granny." I murmured, despite the fact I was covering a yawn. Granny gave me 'the look' so I sighed and slid into the futon, regretfully letting sleep take me.
Time Skip
"Don't bother coming back, bed-wetter!" I called after Momo as she smiled and waved. I glared at her from my spot on the front porch. Momo had decided that she was going to go to the shinigami academy at the recommendation of one stranger shinigami. I glanced to the side where some of the neighboring children walked. The minute they saw me, they turned and walked a little faster, whispering to each other. Why are they scared of me? Is it because of my white hair? Or my turquoise eyes? Is it because I generally act cold towards strangers? I wondered, staring after them longingly. I shook my head, ridding myself of the thoughts. Granny needed me more than a few children. I couldn't be selfish like this. I turned on my heel, walking into the house to keep Granny company.
Time Skip
Granny has getting thinner ever since Momo left and Momo has been visiting less often. Her hair has grown out last I checked and she has fully indulged herself in her studies, too busy to visit anymore. On another note, my dreams have been getting progressively worse and I haven't grown. I thought regretfully as I watched granny. "How about I go get some sweets?" I asked, smiling at my grandmother. Granny smiled and gave me the amount needed to get the snacks. I went running into the village, eager to get Granny the sweets. I ordered quickly and was given the candy. I held out my hand for the change and stared at it as the owner set it on the counter in front of my hand. Some things never change, I guess. I thought bitterly, reaching over and picking up the change. After I pocketed it, I turned only to find something round and large hit me in the face. I bounced off them and my head hit the edge of the counter before I fell to the ground. I clutched the back of my head in pain, half-listening to the woman. She was-to my shock- telling the owner how rude he was acting. Next thing I knew, she had picked me up the back of my yukata. "And you! Quit crying and stand up for yourself like a man!" She shouted at me. I glared darkly at her. "I'm not crying!" I shouted back, smacking her hand away and running all the way home.
That night I went to bed quickly, not wanting to worry Granny any more than she already was for me by avoiding sleep. It was the same dream as before, the ice dragon in front of me. Its mouth moved in what appeared to be words and I can only hear a muffled sound because of the strong winds. "I can't hear you!" I shouted at it. It gave a furious roar and flapped its large wings, making the already strong win stronger. I raised my arms to shield my face, squinting at it. I jerked straight up slicked in a cold sweat. The woman from the market crouched in front of me, her eyes digging into me. "You should stop leaking out your reiatsu and get some sleep. Your grandmother looks pretty cold." She commented, gesturing to Granny. I looked around and was surprised as I realized how cold the room was and the fact that Granny had a layer of hoarfrost on her and she was shivering badly. "You should become a shinigami. Kids' with powers this strong need to learn to control them. If you stay the way you are now, you'll end up killing your grandmother." She explained. I made to sat up, confusion and anger gnawing at me, but she calmly put her hand on my chest and I slumped. "You hear a voice, don't you?" She questioned. My expression seemed to be answer enough for her. "Once you find the voice, you'll know how to control your power. But in order to do that, you need to become a shinigami." She told me.
I thought hard over what the woman had said and soon came to a conclusion. I bowed respectfully to Granny. "Granny, I plan to become a shinigami." I told her, my head bowed. "I am happy for you, Toshiro." Granny said, causing my head to whip up in surprise. "You have always held everything in because you do not wish to leave me, but doing so was only hurting you, and in turn, it hurt me to see you that way." Granny explained. Slowly, the tears built up, and I bowed my head once more, sobbing. Granny stroked my hair until I was done and smiled and waved goodbye as I looked back one more time. I found out that I was supposedly I was too young to enter. I took the test anyway and entered with the highest score of the year. The teachers put me in the advanced classes and gave me my books and uniform, directing me towards the dorms. I found them relatively quickly and searched for my room, finding it far down the long hallway. I dumped my books on my table and folded up my uniform carefully before slipping into my new futon, my eyes sliding shut from my exhaustion.
A.N: Yeah, writing *raises fist weakly* I wrote more for you people because I'm so nice, so return the favor and REVIEW! I don't even care at this point if you're telling me how much you hate the story, just review, for goodness sake! I got this great, evil idea for my story, and I'm eager to see how you react to it. Hopefully you'll cry and scream, but hey, what do I know? You might sing my praises for it. Anyways, yes I have gotten past my major writers block, so yay! Reward me with reviews and you may find the story updated much more often *suggestive wink* So review, favorite, follow, all that happy jazz!