Chapter 7 Inner Autumn
Sitting alone on a night in the soul society, a table filled to the ceiling in paperwork, a white haired captain sits alone in the candlelit office looking up to the ceiling. Nothing was on him mind. Nothing but.. black hair and..soccer?.. "CAPTAIN!" Breaking the silence, the hyperactive, busty blonde associate ran/burst through the door, a hiccup in her voice, and a bottle in hand. "You...have "GOT" to try this new Sake...*hic* Uhh heheh.." then immediately flopped unconscious to the office couch below. Toshiro just had a sweatdrop, as if he was sighing, however he was silent, and hadn't moved an inch in several hours. Then after one final breath, the captain arose from his seat and walked over to matsumoto's drunken "corpse", only to pick up the bottle and see in big bold letters "Alchohol Free". "Ughh Matsumoto..."
"RUKIA! WAIT!" "Don't you dare even try to speak to me..Whoever you are." Rukia continued to travel into one direction, toward the Urahara shoten. Senna closely followed, quite quickly thanks to her athletic skills. "Look *pant* Rukia...What did you say to Ichigo? What's happened? Please tell me." "You happened.." Rukia's lips shook a little, but she kept herself strongly sustained. "W-what do you mean?" Senna attempted to place a hand on Rukia's shoulder, however Rukia jumped forward and slapped Senna's hand away quickly, glaring back at her. "How dare you touch me?" "But...Rukia I..Just want to know what's going on.." Senna replied worried. Rukia then pulled out a soul candy, and held it up to her lips. "Don't come any closer..or I "will" kill you.." "Rukia..this..isn't how Ichigo described you at all.." Senna stood, hands to her chest, slight tear in her eye. "Ichigo..mentioned me?." Rukia glared back..surprised.
Orange haired head, leaned over a desk, pencil in hand, paper on table. Scratching away, Ichigo was etching out what appeared to be a drawing. He had a look of seriousness on his face, not sadness or anger, just an expression of determination. Ichigo had an ipod plugged in, and he was listening to "News from the front" by bad religion for the 15th time today, on almost full blast. But around half way through, he realised that this tempo, theme, and overall sound of the music, wasn't really suited to what he was drawing, so he put on some calmer, fairly soft music on instead, which was unlike him. But with all these different things going on. All these emotions. And all these feelings, who can blame him for trying out different things?
Ichigo had finished whatever he was drawing now, and had simply placed it under one of the futons in his closet for safekeeping. "Ugh..Senna must have gone to go speak with Rukia.. She better be careful.. I don't want her getting hurt or anything." For the first time in almost 7 years, Ichigo picked up the phone.. and called Tatsuki. A long pause was heard before any voice was heard. Beeps were heard, until.. "Hello?" "Hey.." "Um..who is this?" "It's me..Ichigo" Tatsuki's eyes widened, "Y-you're calling me? Why?" "You're my friend aren't you?" Ichigo had no expression on his face as usual, but the heart was there. "Uh Um...yeah yeah I am Ichigo." Then an awkward silence began..until. "You wanna go to the arcade later 'Suki? For old times sake? Tatsuki couldn't believe what she was hearing. Ichigo had actually "offered to go out somewhere for the first time in too long. Not only that, but Ichigo called her 'Suki again.. for the first time..in a long time.. The two of them engaged in rich conversation about what to do.. Then the phone ring ended with Tatsuki hanging up with happy tears in her eyes.
"He told me you were a dependable, kind, sensible, and determined person Rukia.." "...I..I" Rukia, gripped the soul candy harder. "I DON'T CARE!" Rukia rammed the candy into her throat forcing out her soul reaper form. "Now come at me..or run, your choice." "R-Rukia...please no.. don't do th"- Senna then noticed something in her left shoulder, it was tickling. She pulled up her sleeve to see, an almost unnoticeable, tiny soul candy embedded into her skin. She moved her hand over to touch it, and as soon as her hand made contact, her soul was forced out, however, she was wearing her soul reaper uniform. Pitch black, with a crimson red ribbon wrapped around the waist. And also at her waist was Mirokumaru, the sword she claimed to have used in a previous lifetime. "Wh-what the..You're a Soul reaper?" Rukia stood looking stunned. "H-how you didn't use a soul candy..or a badge.. Not to mention you haven't gone through any training! Who..are you?"
Senna pulled out her sword and pointed it at Rukia. "I really don't want to fight you, but I'm not about to turn away... I want to know why you're treating me like this. Senna had a face of strength and determination now. In fact, one could even say she somewhat resembled Ichigo.. This enraged Rukia further, leading her to unsheathing her sword too. "Fine...come on" "Dance..." "Bring them to the twilight.." "Sode no shiraiyuki" Rukia magnificent sword beheld itself to Senna, a pure white blade, hilt and guard. Like fresh snow, it filled the air with a dense icy wind, that caused Senna to shiver a little. "Mirokumaru.." Senna gracefully leapt up into the air, autumn leaves scatter a wide area as she did so. Her sword changed shape completely as she ran her hand over it, it became a long, golden Khakkhara, she instantly summoned up a tornado, and set herself in the middle of it. Rukia charged toward Senna. Seeing this, Senna fired the tornado toward Rukia. However, it was dodged, and Rukia flew toward Senna again, with a screaming battle cry. "YOU MAY BE A SOUL REAPER! BUT YOU NEED EXPERIENCE!" Rukia lifted her sword toward Senna again, Senna however, somehow saw through all of Rukia's sword strikes, and blocked them all. Senna then fired yet another tornado down, hitting and catching Rukia, sending her hurtling down to the ground.
"Ugh" Emerging from the rubble, Rukia pulled herself out. With just her forehead bleeding. "Grr..GRRR." "Some no mai..tsukishiro..grrraaAAHH" A large circle appeared on the ground around Senna. "uh what the?" Senna looked down motionless as she was instantly frozen solid in a huge block of ice. She was trapped in here, nothing else could be done by her.. And Ichigo wasn't here, who would save her now? "You will not take Ichigo away from me.. Even if he's just my friend.. I will not have anybody break that bond, I've already lost somebody like Ichigo before.. I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN!" Rukia held her sword towards the ice, preparing to slice it in two, along with Senna.
"Click...Click" the ice began to crack before Rukia could do anything. The ice shattered, and shards flew all over the area, and at the core, a glowing orange and black aura could be seen enveloping Senna. White bone began to scatter onto her face, she growled and mumbled in the air. "Graough...GrrrAGH. Didn't I already tell you in your dreams Senna? You're weak..pathetic..And if it weren't for that Ichigo bastard.. You'de be long dead." Senna's voice had changed dramatically. It was now a lot more..manic. Rukia stared as she heard this voice. "Wh-what?" Senna lifted her head, to reveal half a mask slid over Senna's face. Her eyes had turned black and yellow. The dark, yet shiny eyes, stared Rukia down. Her lips stretched out to the reaches of her face in a disturbing smile. "You nearly got killed..by "that" attack? You truly are pathetic. "rrrrghHAHAHAHAAA" This stange new Senna appeared before Rukia with Mirokumaru. The staff was placed at Rukia's forehead wound. Senna then fired a tornado out of the tip of this weapon, right into Rukia's wound, sending her flying down to the ground at a blinding speed.
"I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE YOU NEARLY DIED FROM THAT ATTACK! You make me sick Senna.." Staring down at Rukia's body, the now almost fully masked Senna chuckled under her voice. Rukia then emerged from all the fog and smoke..decay and rubble. Only to see her with Sode no shiraiyuki, held out in two open palms. "What's this? You're admitting defeat so quickly? Fine, give me your sword if thats the way you want to die..RGHAHAHA" Rukia looked up at the hollowfied Senna. With the simple phrase.. "Ban..Kai.."
Just wanna make a big thanks to all those reading and enjoying this work so far. Shadowgouf, Hiddenxoxo, Zangetsu50, bleach number 1 fan. (Sorry that I can't put them all. ^^;) But thanks to all you guys. But this fic is far from finished yet. ;D
If you're wondering "Whats the deal with the first paragraph?".. Here's a clue..Episode 132.. That's all for now folks. ;P Until next time.