I fight for my comrades. They are my friends. They are my only family.
Without them…
There is only I.
And I cannot stand that emptiness.
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Chapter 2: Finding the Key
4 years later:
The little girl had chosen a name for herself.
Rukia.
She still did not know the meaning behind the word but it came to her in her endless dream and she grasped on to the small string of familiarity.
Rukia still dreamed constantly about running, following the never ending white walls, but the woman had never appeared again.
Once, Rukia had thought that she had reappeared, but when she focused on the outline, the kimono was no longer. Instead, it was a white haori, fluttering gently. She had called out, shouting, "Rukia?"
Only a light swirl of cherry blossoms answered her.
Whenever she woke, she found herself clasping the necklace she had always remembered having. It was a simple piece of silver chain, but it was tough. A small, locket lay on her chest, in the shape of a lock. On the side, there was a small, pink cherry blossom. Rukia was sure it was part of a match set and she was determined to find who held the other half.
The necklace was precious to her. It gave her comfort, like someone was watching over her protectively. Rukia knew it was a silly notion, but it made her happy nonetheless. Anyway, the cherry blossom was fitting, since her dream always seemed to have the delicate flower appear.
Rukia sighed.
When she had first met Renji, she had hoped that he contained the key to her lock. But he had only stared at her incredulously before laughing and shaking his head. She would not have asked him in the first place if he wasn't leaving.
He left a few months ago to attend the shinigami academy.
Rukia played with the penchant absentmindedly while thinking back to the days with Renji. Her mind drifted and her eyes became sad when she thought about their deceased friends.
Renji and her, they had decided to become shinigami.
But she had backed out.
Renji had stared at her, shocked.
"Where else is there to go, Rukia?" he had asked, anger starting to color his voice. She didn't blame him. The two of them were very close and it was hard to bond in Rukongai. But she insisted on staying and he wanted to go, so they went separate ways.
Renji had promised though. "One day, we will meet again."
She smiled but frowned when she heard her stomach start to grumble. Sometimes, it was tiring, having to steal food and satisfy her hunger. She reached for the black piece of cloth that she used to cover her face.
Once I find the key, I'll go become a shinigami.
Wait for me until then, Renji.
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A lock and a key.
Can you open the door to my heart?
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Byakyu wandered aimlessly around 78th district of Rukongai. He was not searching for Rukia this time; instead, his thoughts had wandered to Hisana.
The first cherry blossom had bloomed right after she died.
It was heartbreaking that she had not seen it. It was devastating that she had died after living with him for only 5 short years. When one is nearly immortal, 5 years is just a short daydream.
He missed her.
Byakyu played idly with the penchant in his hand, admiring the smooth surface and delicate design of a cherry blossom on the side.
It was Hisana's.
She had given it to him, before he died.
Because you're cherry blossom.
His eyes were cold and unyielding as he scanned the dirty streets of Rukongai. The people stared at him, admiring and fearing his black robes and his status. He could hear whispers all around him.
Because you hold the key to my heart.
He tied the silver necklace to the tie around his obi, letting the key dangle by his waist. His eyes started to form with resolve as he stepped now with a purpose.
He had promised his late wife that he would carry out what she couldn't do.
I will find…Her.
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Rukia sighed in frustration as she jogged along the streets of Rukongai, looking for a stand to steal from. Her head swiveled this way and that, but lately, it seemed like the owners were more aware of thieves like her and had taken extreme care to keep vigilant watch over their water and bread. Lately, they had even started recognizing thieves so now, some more advanced thieves made use of masks like herself.
If one was fast and agile like her, they could afford direct confrontation to steal a piece of bread.
Others did not risk using a mask, knowing that it would give away who they were right away.
She heard her stomach growl again.
"Rukia-san?"
Rukia turned back to see two figures chasing after her. Her eyes lit up and she stopped immediately, waiting for them to catch up.
"Rukia-san! It is you!"
"Rin-chan! Kubota! How have you guys been?" she asked excitedly, seeing some of her old partners for a long time. She grinned as she remembered the various robbing they had carried out in the past.
Rin with her bold blue hair and blue eyes smiled excitedly while throwing her arms around Rukia to give her a warm hug. "Rukia-san! Where have you been?"
Rukia returned her hug and nodded to Kubota who grinned at her. "I've been many places. I'm trying to get some food, you want to join me?"
"I'm ready," Kubota said, tossing his blonde hair away from his eyes. Rukia smiled and walked over to tousle his hair. He immediately frowned, swatting away his hand.
Rin jumped excitedly and grabbed Rukia's hand. "Let's go!"
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It had all gone terribly wrong.
Rukia had gone ahead to look for an easy stall to rob and the other two had stayed behind, getting ready. She should not have left them. They did not understand what shinigami were and it so happened that day one had stepped foot in Rukongai.
Something had caught Rin's eye. She tugged on Kubota's sleeve. "Hey, see that pretty necklace dangling from the strange man's robe?"
Kubota turned to see where she was pointing and nodded. "Yeah?"
Rin tapped her chin thoughtfully and then grinned. "I was thinking we could try to take it and then sell it. We're good at that stuff. He wouldn't even notice."
Kubota promptly bonked her on the head.
"Idiot, we don't want to mess with him. He looks strange."
Rin scowled. "Strange things always appear here. Let's do it, are you chicken?"
Kubota frowned. "Rukia told us to stay here. She'll be back any minute."
The shorter girl stared at him before shrugging. "Fine, if you won't help me, I'll do it myself. I'm fairly confident in my skills of pick pocketing." She turned to go but she was snagged on her collar. She turned her head back irritably. "What?"
Kubota sighed. "I'll go with you."
Rin smiled.
They walked into the crowd of people and engaged the man in black robes, not noticing the number on the back of his white haori.
6
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A boy with bright yellow hair had stepped into his path, blocking him. He started to engage him in conversation, asking pointless, stupid questions. Byakyu had no doubt he and probably a few other young, inexperienced thieves were trying to rob him. Byakyu questioned their mentality.
Were they too stupid to realize he had no money on hand? Were they that proud to try to take something from a Kuchiki noble?
His eyes widened as he felt something slip over his robe and take…
Gray eyes narrowed.
They were trying to take his necklace.
Hisana's necklace.
He felt anger course through him. The dirty scum of this place did not understand what they had just done. He turned around quickly and grabbed the thieving hand that held his necklace and looked into frightened blue eyes.
Byakyu sensed the boy move when a voice suddenly called out, "Kubota, run!"
His eyes found another figure, masked. He could tell it was a girl by her voice and her black hair. As she started moving quickly toward them, he stilled momentarily when he realized that her eyes were the same shade as Hisana's. He grabbed a hold of himself when he saw that her eyes were a darker violet than the ones he had remembered. He sensed a small amount of reiatsu from her.
Byakyu concluded she was part of the plan to take the necklace. His eyes narrowed. They would pay for trying to take his memory of Hisana away. They were soiling her pride.
The thieves stared at him in fear, not expecting the man to notice that they had taken his small pendant. Quickly, the boy with blond hair moved, dashing quickly on to the road, running from the man.
The captain tsked in annoyance, closing his eyes irritably, letting go of the girl's wrists..
Kubota did not know what hit him.
As he fell, he saw the tall man walk toward Rukia and Rin. His eyes slipped shut as a spray of blood flew from where he was cut deeply. He hadn't even seen the man draw his sword.
Damn.
I knew we shouldn't have messed with him.
Rukia stared wide-eyed at the boy. He dropped with a dull thud and she flinched, watching the blood pool beneath his still body. She turned angrily on the man, raising her fists to punch him.
"YOU-"
Her eyes widened as she felt his sharp sword go through her body, slashing from her shoulder down to her opposite hip. Pain more intense than she had ever felt exploded through her mind. Her mouth remained in an open O as she toppled backwards, seeing Rin tremble in fear as the man stepped towards the last standing thief.
Byakyu regarded her for a moment, his eyes resting on the chain gripped tightly in her hands. He did not want to stain it with blood.
"You will give me the necklace before I kill you."
He had such a cold voice.
Rin trembled in fear as he let his reiatsu rise. She felt his overpowering spiritual force and her trembling weak knees threatened to buckle. Cursing herself for not realizing sooner how dangerous shinigami were, she raised her hands slowly. Swallowing hard, Rin threw the key at the man and ran as fast as she could, turning and speeding away from the dangerous man. Blue eyes widened a split second later when she felt him tower beside her.
She could not even close her eyes in fear.
Byakyu raised his sword to strike the blue-haired girl down but he quickly stepped back to avoid the weak kidou blast that was fired at him.
Rukia stared, incredulous, at the man and then at her hands, amazed at the blast she had created. She had known how to create a ball of spiritual power but did not know it was possible to release it.
She looked back up to find the man gone and Rin staring at her, eyes wide with shock.
After she blinked, she raised her eyes slowly to look up at the tall man with gray eyes.
Byakyu was surprised that someone with that amount of spiritual power was living in Rukongai. He was intrigued that someone who did not have any knowledge of kido could fire one. He could tell the girl had no idea what she was doing by the wide set of her violet eyes.
He spoke softly. "It's impressive you are still standing."
Her fist flew at him at a speed she did not know she was capable of. Rukia was sorely disappointed though, as he caught her fist easily and twisted it sharply.
She let out a cry of pain as she felt her wrist break.
Byakyu put a finger to her already injured shoulder and muttered, "Byakurai." He let go of her broken wrist as she fell, a burning hole in her shoulder as the intense white light disappeared.
When he turned around, the other girl was still there, frozen in fear. She seemed to be cursing her jello legs and the fact that she had not run while he was preoccupied.
"It would have made no difference if you had run," he spoke calmly, walking towards her.
He drew out his sword as he approached closer and closer. Onlookers murmured in hushed whispers, too terrified to step in. They valued their lives. He finally reached the girl and she craned her neck to look at him, her eyes starting to tear. Her eyes were fixated on his sharp sword.
"Bya…kurai."
Gray eyes widened as he had to shunpo away again to avoid the kido blast. Granted it was weak compared to his, but it was still strong. He turned to regard the black haired girl. She was struggling to stand and her back was hunched over as she tried to regain her breath.
Rukia had taken a wild chance and imitated what the shinigami had done. She raised her head slowly and glared at him. "Leave…her alone," she forced out, her voice shaking. Her chest heaved with difficulty and blood was streaming profusely from where he had struck her twice. His eyes narrowed.
He raised his hand slowly and cast forth another spell. "Sho."
Rukia was blown back into a building, the heavy crates dropping down on her body. The girl gasped as pain pounded heavily and she struggled desperately to dislodge herself. She could already feel broken ribs. Her mask was torn off violently in the fall. She could already feel her spiritual power draining away.
She spit out the blood in her mouth and coughed before raising her uninjured hand.
"Byakurai!" she shouted.
A white jet of light burst forth from where she lay, releasing her and she stumbled out, clutching tightly at her stomach. It hurt to use the arm that he had shot through her shoulder, but her other hand was broken at the wrist.
Tiredly, she felt her vision blurring as she raised her head once again to look at the man. Her locket fell from its usual place behind her cut robe out into the air, dangling from her neck.
"Get away…from her."
Mustering all her strength, she raised her hand and aimed.
In the instant the girl had raised her face, unmasked to look at him, he had seen the resemblance between her and his late wife.
His eyes widened.
"It can't be."
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"Rukia?"