Konnichiwa, Minna-san! Here is the 18th chapter for you all!
The rating has gone up to M. Breathing room ^^ There's something in this chapter which my editor-chan said could use it XD
Oh, and sorry about updating so late! I intended to leave it for a day or two, then when I tried to post this, the site wouldn't let me log in! Then I thought, fair enough, tomorrow then. And the next freakin' day I can login just fine, but I couldn't submit documents to the bloody thing!! Then to make my day, I found out that I couldn't even review! NOW there's something wrong with the review paging system...JUST WHAT THE HELL?!
Sigh...Okay, I'm done now. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING BUT THE FANCONCEPT OF MY FANFICTIONS.
-x-X-x-
Gratitude
We cannot cure the world of sorrows,
but we can choose to live in joy.
-x-X-x-
''Mi-chan! I'm so glad that you're back and well!'' Kyouraku said, smiling widely as he patted me on the head. I noticed that a group was starting to form around me. There was Ukitake with his subordinates; Kotsubaki and Kiyone. Unohana with Isane. And Kyouraku with Nanao. I sighed in despair when I saw FonShaoLin appearing next to me, eyeing me sternly.
''Higurashi! Are you sure you're well enough to be wondering about?!'' she asked strictly.
I was just going out for a small, little, harmless walk around Seireitei like I usually would do, and next thing I knew I was being surrounded by Shinigami. High-ranked, intimidating, reiatsu-outlet-machines. Soon there was a discussion over something about my health that resulted into an argument between the speakers. My eyebrow twitched in annoyance.
''Alright; hear ye, hear ye!'' I yelled out, waving my arms about in an exaggerated manner. ''I, Higurashi Miyuki, am back, fine, and well! I am not dying, am not suffering from a psychotic condition; I just have another voice in the back of my head.'' I grinned when I noticed that my whole audience was cracking at least a small smile, even FonShaoLin. ''Though you should beware because my personality could change instantaneously, as I have another soul in my spirit shell. Don't let that freak you, though. If you stay back I'm sure she won't be compelled to go on a murderous rampage.'' I took a deep breath after I finished my 'professional announcement'. Ukitake gave me an apologetic smile as he scratched the back of his head.
''Gomen na, Yuki-chan. We were just worried!'' he said and I smiled at him, waving him off.
''But I'm really glad that you're alright, Higurashi-chan!'' Kotsubaki said in an energetic voice, and Kiyone jumped out from behind him.
''WHAT? Since when have you changed your suffix from 'san' to 'chan', Kotsubaki?!'' she asked, then turned to me with a passionate fire in her light purple eyes, her tanned face intense, and her hand was over her heart. ''I am much, much more glad that you're alright, Miyuki-chan!'' she said, and I raised my eyebrow at the sudden change of my title. I laughed nervously, and Kotsubaki had pushed her away.
''What the hell, Kiyone?! I'm much, much, much, MUCH more glad that Yu-chan's alright!''
I sighed when it became obvious that they were battling over Ukitake's affections again. I turned to Unohana before bowing.
''Natsume told me about the time you attempted to wake me up...'' I said. ''Sumi masen deshta.'' I was surprised when I felt a soft hand cup my chin, tilting my head to look up into kind, blue eyes.
''Don't worry about it, child.'' A smile graced her lips. ''The most important thing is that you're well.''
Unohana... really reminded me of my mother. Deep, sapphire blue eyes, black hair, pale skin... But the only setback was that their faces were completely different. Well, I could also say the same thing about Nanao... but Unohana was still more similar looking to my mother because of the curves and... never mind.
I felt both Kyouraku and Ukitake patting my head; my eyebrows twitched again.
''Touch my head one more time and I swear I'll bite your kneecaps off!''
--
Rangiku giggled we both were in the 10th Division's women bath. Though, only the fukutaichou was in the hot tub as I was in the sitting on the bath chair, washing my hair. As I looked through the steam, squinted my eyes I asked myself why we were the only ones in the whole room; though I could imagine that Rangiku just reserved the area for herself for a while. I had just told her what had happened to me earlier that morning and she apparently found it humorous.
''...I really don't see what's so funny in that,'' I said flatly as I raised an eyebrow, foaming the shampoo on my head.
''Oh, it's not that, just... hmm...'' She seemed to be somewhere else in her mind. ''Miyuki, could you raise her arms a little higher?'' I blinked in confusion at her request, my back was facing her so I don't know that she as grinning. I raised my arms higher like she asked as I continued to rub the soap in my hair.
''Uh, Okay... like this?'' I asked.
''Yes, yes, yes! Now, just stay like that...''
''...Rangiku, what is going on in that head of yours?''
''Oh, nothing!''
I sighed as I shook my head before I grabbed a wooden bucket when I stood. I filled it with water before holding it over my head. With a flick of my wrists, I closed my eyes as the water splashed over me, rinsing all the soap in one go. I sighed in content and turned around to re-fill the bucket, but Rangiku's voice stopped me again.
''Oh my God! Miyuki, do NOT move!'' she said excitedly and I froze, then blinked before I turned to look at the fukutaichou.
''...Is there something you need to tell me, Rangiku?'' I asked. She only grinned before waving me off.
''Nothing, nothing~!'' she sang. I furrowed my brows in suspicion as I released the bucket after deciding that I'd just forget the second splash. I made my way over to the hot-tub, and slipped into the warm water.
''You're acting weird,'' I said flatly, making her giggle.
''Souka?''
I sighed before shaking my head. ''If you're making laughing at me because of my figure, then tell me in my face, will you?'' Rangiku widened her eyes at me.
''No, no! I wasn't doing that!''
I sighed. I didn't believe her.
''I know my thighs are fat, you don't need to tell me!'' I said, looking away with a pout. When Rangiku laughed, I turned back to give her an annoyed glare. ''What's so funny?!''
''You're about the first girl I ever met who was complaining about her thighs rather than her boobs!''
I blinked at her before narrowing my eyes.
''So are you now telling me that I have small breasts as well?!'' I asked, not bothering to suppress my frustration. ''My breasts are not small! Bigger than average and I'm damn PROUD of them, so HA! ...But then again, everyone is small-busted next to you!'' She looked at me with that evil glint in her eye and she leaned over to me. I looked around, trying to find a way to escape, but all in vain the fukutaichou used shunpo to get behind me, cupping my breasts from behind.
''Kya!'' I exclaimed, squirming in the woman's grip. But a deep, crimson blush crossed my cheeks when my eyes flew open when she started fondling with my breasts.
''Ah...Ahhh...!'' I cursed myself when I let that moan slip out, biting my lip when she started massaging my chest.
''Mou... Miyuki, we're going to have to do this more often! I need to make you more sensitive for these things!'' she said, ''I need to prepare you for taichou~'' My blushed intensified as she gave my breast a sensual squeeze.
''What did you- o-oh...ah! Ahhh...! Rangiku! Ahh! S-Stop it! Aah...!''
''Waa! That was good!''
''Rangiku! Will you QUIT IT?!''
''Don't you want to please taichou?''
''W-Well, that's-! Ahhh...! Oh...ohhh...ahh...ah! Ahhhh...!''
''I won't need the photos anymore with this~!''
I blinked.
''...Photos?'' My head turned around and gave her a death glare. ''Rangiku? What photos?''
She smiled nervously when I noticed a small, boxed-shaped item behind the corner of the tub. My arm shot out to get it, and I saw, to my horror, a camera. My eyebrow twitched; this explained why Rangiku suddenly wanted me to do poses.
''...You've been taking nude-pictures of me.'' I stated that as a fact rather than a question.
''B-But I only make them for taichou so that he'd loosen up! He always blushes so furiously and it's cute! Besides, it was a great opportunity to show you off!''
''...MATSUMOTO, I AM GOING TO MURDER YOU!!!''
*CRASH*
''YAAAAAA!!!''
''GET BACK HERE SO THAT I CAN DRAW BLOOD!!!''
*CRASH!*
''Now I got you, Miyuki!''
''Ah! Let go! Let me go! A-A-A-Ahhhhh...! Oh! Aaaaaahhhhhhh...!!!''
''Success!''
''MATSUMOTOOOO!!!''
-:-:-:-:-Frozen Passion-:-:-:-:-
''Ahhh...! Rangiku, I'm gonna... oh, ahhh! Hurt you for this, dammit! Ahhh...!''
I was sitting in front of my desk, looking down at my paperwork. But my face was so red at that moment I was starting to worry that I might get a nosebleed, since I could hear all the noise from the bathing area of the division. My eyebrows twitched in annoyance as the moans continued. I just couldn't concentrate on my work with this...!
''Iie! Ya...Yada! Don't touch me there! Ahhhh...! O-Oi! Where do you think your hand's going?! Ahhhhhh...! DON'T TOUCH ME DOWN THERE! AAAHH...!!!''
My eyes were as round as dinner plates. Every single drop of blood in my body had made it's way to my face, my brain producing images in alarming rate. After a while of the moaning never ceasing I stood up and slammed my fists against the table.
''FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JUST STOP IT!!!'' I yelled out, running a hand through my hair, sighing heavily. I needed this moaning to stop; it was driving me crazy!
-:-:-:-:-Sincere Resolve-:-:-:-:-
I was marching down the Seireitei grounds again, muttering curses under my breath. My face was still flustered, but anyone who saw my expression would think it was because of anger instead of the real reason. I groaned when I saw Natsume materializing in her transparent form next to me, grinning from ear to ear.
'Come on, don't tell me that you didn't find it an interesting experience! Besides, did you see Hitsugaya-taichou's face?'
I blinked and felt my eye twitching in pure annoyance as I blushed. She just walked faster to keep up with me when I quickened my pace.
...I hate you.
'I love you too-' She cut herself off when she saw a shinigami crashing out the window of the 11th division training hall. Amethyst and emerald eyes were peeled open, staring at the knocked out shinigami on the floor, shards of glace covering him. 'HOLY SHIT ON A SANDWICH WITH (BEEP) ONTOP! THAT GUY JUST GOT KILLED TO DEATH!' she yelled, pointing an accusing finger at the motionless body next to us. I wasn't remembering her swearword as a 'beep' because I was lazy, it was because I honestly heard that.
First, Natsume; you can't kill people to death. Either you kill them and they are stone dead, or you don't kill them and they live. But in this case the guy was just thrown out a bloody window so shut up.
Still curious, I walked over to the 11th Division training hall and looked inside through the window, and noticed that it was the ryoka leader... Kurosaki Ichigo I think he was called. Standing opposite to him was the 3rd seat of the 11th division, Madarame Ikkaku. And sitting around those two was a group of 11th shinigami officers. I tilted my head to the side as I listened to their stupid, but insanely entertaining conversation.
''Oh? You've got guts, Ichigo. You sure? In recuperation or not, I won't hold back,'' Madarame turning to face the oranged-haired student.
''We're both in recuperation. Actually, I wasn't even sick, just injured,'' Kurosaki said before shrugging, his wooden sword tapping against his color-bone.
''It's the same thing! The time you get injured and then heal up is called recuperation, too!'' The skin-head narrowed his eyes is annoyance.
''No, it's not!''
''Then what's it called when you're injured and get healed? Tell me!''
''Well, that's...'' Kurosaki's voice trailed off, his frown creasing his mouth. ''...I dunno...''
''See, you don't know! Go back and learn Japanese again, dumbass!''
''What'd you say?! What's with you, always shavin' your head eventhough there's nothin' in it!''
''Oh?'' Kurosaki seemed to have hit the nerve in Madarame's bald head. ''ALRIGHT THEN, HOW ABOUT WHOEVER WINS IS RIGHT?!'' Madarame suggested as he launched himself into a dramatic fighting pose.
A clearly visible vein pulse on Kurosaki's head, too. Though it was admittedly harder to notice than Madarame's; considering that he doesn't have a full head of hair. ''ALRIGHT, BRING IT ON! I'LL SHOW YOU JAPANESE IS MY BEST SUBJECT!!!'' he yelled and their wooden swords clashed. But before anything else happened the entrance door slid open to reveal Zaraki Kenpachi, captain of the 11th division.
''Yo,'' he said simply. Both Kurosaki and Madarame turned around and looked at him, making a remarkably intelligent reply.
''Huh?''
The division officers gathered before their captain and bowed. ''Good morning, Taichou!'' they yelled in an union. I shook my head slightly at the randomness of the scenario.
''Huh?'' Zaraki exclaimed as he saw Kurosaki, ''Hey, it's Ichigo.'' His pink-haired fukutaichou peeked out of his shoulder.
''Icchi! Morny!'' she said in her usual, cheery voice as she gave him a wave.
''Your wounds all better?'' Zaraki asked, acting as if Yachiru never made a comment... though then again, that might be the best way to handle her...
''Y-Yeah...'' Kurosaki answered, and turned to face him with a thumbs up. ''Thankfully, I'm all goo-'' his words died in his throat when his wooden sword was slashed in half. He looked at the bersted used-to-be practice sword then back at Zaraki, who had his Zanpakto drawn.
Uh oh...
''That so? Good to hear. Now I can let loose... AND FIGHT WITH YOU!'' the 11th division Taichou said with a smirk and brought his sword down.
Okay, I'm getting out of here now...
When I walked off I could faintly hear the childish fukutaichou saying, ''Ken-chan! This way, this way!''
''Hey, dammit! Ichigo, wait! You won't get away! Come back here!'' Zaraki's yell became fainter as he ran off after Ichigo, who obviously was running for dear life. I scoffed. You'd have to be insane to stop running from that guy in that fit of his. But I wasn't worried, since the mood was too easy-going for a death-match... and Kurosaki was dashing fast enough.
How ironic, just a few days ago the Gotei 13 were hell-bent in executing Kuchiki Rukia and exterminating the ryoka. Now looking at things, I had to suppress a scoff. My eyes saddened when I allowed my thoughts to wander.
Aizen Sousuke... so he really was the chief doctor of Wahrheit, wasn't he? He was the one responsible for my time in Wahrheit, he was the one responsible for my parents' deaths...
Those two who were with Aizen, were they really my mother and father? Were they imitations? Were they being controlled? Why was it that they had memories? How did Aizen get his hands on them? What will happen to them now? Why were they under Aizen?
I sighed as I rubbed my temple, so many thoughts and theories were whirling around in my head. My eyes softened when I remembered Toushirou's words.
''Don't think about it, Miyuki. Until we have concrete information and truth we can rely on, assuming things is stupid.''
I chuckled. Assuming things without any proof has always been one of my favorite occupations. With that reasurance Toushirou single-handedly insulted my hobby. Though, in this context, he was right.
But those questions were bugging me non-stop, regardless.
My thoughts made a halt when I walked by the 5th Division building - and saw Hinamori giving orders to the post. She was standing in the open court-yard of the division, and her arms were pointing in pecific directions as I saw her mouth opening and closing as she spoke her orders. I smiled wryly. With the captains gone, their lieutenants will be having to keep the division in order. After she dispatched a group, I ran over to her, waving.
''Yo, Momo!''
I saw her eyes flying open before she snapped her head around to face me with wide eyes. ''M-Miyuki!''
Crossing my arms, I smiled up at her as I came up to her. ''Looks like you've got your hands full!'' I said, looking at the members patrolling around. She nodded meekly.
''Yeah...since Aizen-taichou has...'' I frowned when I heard the sad tone in her voice. ''Miyuki, about when I tried to...'' her sentence trailed off as she looked down at her feet, ashamed. I sighed softly.
''You've already apologized, haven't you? I heard from Natsume,'' I said, sincerely meaning what I was about to say, ''So it's okay and put behind. Don't sweat over it.''
''But I-!''
''Oh for crying out bloody loud! Are you going to be persistant too?!'' I asked, glaring at her with narrowed eyes, and she coward at my expression. I wasn't angry at Momo - true, I was upset, but she apologiyed, end of story. And, were I to be honest... if the same thing happened to me, and Toushirou had left me a letter with those words against Momo...then most likely I would've also... ''I'm sick of people saying 'sorry' to me! It's been going on since yesterday and I have no bloody clue what they're apologizing for!'' She gulped, making my inwardly smirk at my accomplishment of lightening the mood. ''Do you understand!?''
''Y-Yes, ma'am! I'm sor-''
''What was that?!''
''Nothing, ma'am!'' she said, alarmed and waving her arms in front of her in a defensive manner. Soon she sighed and looked at me with a smile, and I was caught off guard when she gave me a hug. ''I'm so glad that you're alright...'' she said as she tighten the embrace.
I laughed as I pat her back, ''...I think that line's familiar...'' I said in a low voice, remembering the debate between Kiyone and Kotsubaki. She chuckled, but never loosened her grip on me.
''Can I thank you, then?'' she asked and I raised my eyebrows at that.
''Huh? What for?''
''Thank you... for forgiving me.''
We just stayed like that for a few more minutes, with her muttering 'thank you' over and over again. I sighed slightly, but it was still better than her chanting 'I'm sorry'...
I looked at the side of Momo's smiling, bright face from the corner of my eye, feeling a smile tugging my lips as well.
...To think I was going to throw her away...
I really was an idiot.
But it was quite noticable that I was being hugged or grabbed a lot lately. Must have been because of my height.
-:-:-:-:-Frozen Passion-:-:-:-:-
I was pacing back and forth in my office with my arms crossed. My brows were furrowed, my mouth was pulled in a scowl as my finger tapped involuntarily and impatiently against my arm.
I looked up at the clock on the wall. 17:43
My head looked back down and I continued my aimless pacing.
I looked up at the clock again. 17:44
Dammit.
Pace, pace, pace, pace, pace.
Look up. 17:44
The door slid open and I snapped my head over to look at the opening, my mouth opened to speak. ''Miyu-!'' I cut myself when I saw that it was Matsumoto. I sighed in frustration before giving her an annoyed look. Today wasn't paperwork day, and when Matsumoto comes to the office when it isn't paperwork day, then it's a bad omen.
She grinned at me, making me narrow my eyes. That giddy grin... she caught what I had said earlier on.
''Oooh, Taichou! Anxiously waiting for Miyuki's return, ne?'' she asked. I groaned before looking away so that she wouldn't be able to see my blush. ''She's with Flamel. But you should have seen your face when you looked at Miyuki! What compelled that ripe-tomato taint, taichou? Did you hear the moans?'' I gulped when she started digging. ''Waa, look at that blush! You really did hear it!'' I cringed when she leaned in to look at my flustered face with surprise, my eyes were wide with both embarrassment and shock as I backed away.
She grinned evilly. ''It was sexy, wasn't it, taichoouu~?'' I narrowed my eyes at her.
''DAMARE!''
She giggled before looking back at me. ''Miyuki...Well, Natsume-kun is with Flamel, so if you want to see Miyuki...'' her voice trailed off and her smirk widened.
''I am not waiting for Miyuki. I am not looking for her, I don't care where she is, and I'm not interested,'' I said flatly, and just looking at my lieutenant told me that she believed none of it; she even looked like she was about so say something along the lines of 'And I've never touched sake before in my life'. We just stood there in silence. Me glaring at her and her grinning at me.
Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...
''I'm going out for a walk.'' With that sudden and clear announcement, I walked out the door to the hallway. A frown creased my expression when I suppressed a blush because I heard Matsumoto laughing histerically behind the door.
As I stomped through the hall, I had the hunch that Flamel and Natsume were in the training ground where the soul reaper trained with Miyuki before the whole mess spun out of control. Since it was shown that Natsume had immense talent with alchemy, Miyuki thought that it would a lot more sensible that she would train with Flamel instead of her, considering the situation we were in.
Even though it was the most logical and rational decision, I still felt a bit upset with how Miyuki handled it. She proposed the idea with a careless expression, as if she weren't worth any trouble. I sighed. I was going to have to work on that inferiority complex of hers. Though I was glad that Miyuki had recovered well, being her usual... self. A small smile crossed my lips when that came through my thoughts.
We found out that Flamel used to be married to a shinigami of Soul Society. Though it was many hundreds of years ago, he was still remembered in a few minds as a traitor of Soul Society who was executed at the end. He left behind a son he had with Flamel - she gave birth to him in England, but it turned out that he was born as a shinigami. Because of that, she left him in Seireitei under the Soutaichou's care. No one could imagine that he would turn out like his father.
I thought it was odd that the Soutaichou had so much trust in Flamel that she wouldn't betray Soul Society for the sake of her son. But considering that she had such good relations to Soul Society after the her tragedy, I guessed that this trust was very well justified.
I raised my eyebrows when I heard some curses and swearing ringing through the air.
''WHAT DID YOU CALL ME, YOU SHRIMP?!''
''I CALLED YA AN OLD HAG! ARE YA GETTIN' TA TH' AGE WHERE YA GO DEAF ALREADY?!''
*CRASH!*
I sighed before shaking my head slightly as I walked over to the training ground with crossed arms. I looked at the two females clapping their hands, transmuting ridiculous weapons, as well as throwing kicks and punches at each other. Though their intent was perhaps trivial and downright stupid, their skills were obvious. Natsume was even surprising me with her talent for alchemy and combat, to the point where I admitted to myself that I would rather not like to fight against her.
However I was glad that Natsume turned out to be a worthy fighter - that meant that there was a purpose for Miyuki to be here. I could tell that Yamamoto was starting to get weary with his decision to leave Miyuki under my care, because he thought that she might be of use in battle. In the worse case he might have even discarded her to Rukongai, so in my opinion the pieces have fallen to good places.
Another sigh escaped my mouth when they started coming at each other with swords in their grips. Flamel with her usual, European sword which I remember Miyuki calling a cutlass, and Natsume with a katana; identical to the metallic white one Miyuki used to have. I was sighing because of their yells.
''WHO ARE YOU CALLING A WRINKLY OLD BAG WHO LOOKED LIKE SHE WAS CRUMBLED UP AND USED AS A FLOOR MOP?!''
''I DIDN'T SAY THAT, BUT NOW THAT YA MENTION IT, IT'S A PRETTY ACCURATE DISCRIPTION!''
''...DIIIIEEEE!!!''
I blinked when I heard the jingles of bells from behind me. My eyes narrowed.
''Zaraki?'' I asked, ''What are you doing here?'' It was well known that Zaraki Kenpachi didn't possess the sense of orientation, but I had the feeling that he came here by instinct, judging from his radiating grin.
''That girl ya got under yer care sure is strong. I think that I might just have some fun with her...'' I flashed him a glare as I looked over my shoulder. His grin wavered slightly before I used shunpo to get next to the still-fighting Natsume and grabbed her from the back of her jumper. She was looking at me incredulously after she exclaimed with a 'Gah!'.
''Oi, Hitsugaya-taichou! What in the flaming hell are you doing?!'' she asked, Flamel also giving me an evil look. I glared at Natsume.
''It's past sunset; I know that you could go on forever, but Miyuki is bound to get tired by now! And if you haven't noticed yet,'' I said as I pointed over my shoulder with my thumb, ''you're catching Zaraki's attention - which is probably not in your best interest.'' She raised her eyebrows as I released her. Her eyes wandered over my shoulder before she gulped, doubtlessly seeing Zaraki with that rather berserk smirk on his face.
''...He's got a point. We'll settle things tomorrow, in private grounds,'' Flamel said, walking away as she waved at us slightly. ''Sleep well.''
''You too,'' Natsume said. I was confused that they were making their leave in such a friendly manner, despite the fact that they looked like they were about to bite each other's heads off a few moments ago. I watched the black-haired girl clasping a hand over her chest and closing her eyes. A soft, white glow illuminated around her and she opened her eyelids, revealing amethyst irises. Without letting her say anything, I grabbed her by the arm and used shunpo to arrive in front of the 10th division entrance. She shrieked, and looked up at me with wide eyes as she opened her mouth to speak.
''W-What was that for?!'' she asked, perplexed. I released her arm as I walked down the hall, gesturing Miyuki to walk along side me.
''Zaraki was having a turn. So I got you out of the way,'' I said. She nodded in comprehension before looking ahead.
''You saved me, my hero?'' she teased, and I turned over to look at her with a smirk of my own.
''Obviously. If someone doesn't look out for you, Heaven knows how you'd end up.'' I chuckled when she looked away with her pale cheeks being colored with a nice, red taint.
''Urusai na.'' Her retort just made my chuckle morph to a laugh. Seeing her embarrassed was a rare sight, so I leaned to her face to see the blush, grinning all the while. She just glared at me and tried to run off, but keeping up with her was child's play.
''You're evil!'' she said, pointing an accusing finger at me. I shrugged.
''Your point?'' I crossed my arms as a smirk crossed my lips. ''Don't you find me so attractive like that?'' She blushed harder, and frowned deeply.
''That's- you- I- But-...ARGH! Who the hell made us switch roles?!''
-:-:-:-:-Sincere Resolve-:-:-:-:-
I stood next to Ukitake as the ryoka walked towards the Senkai gate, and I saw Kuchiki Rukia taking a step forward. I came to watch because I have never seen a Senkai gate before - but after I was saved from that hollow by Toushirou, he brought me back through this gate, didn't he? So it does have some meaning to me. And seeing it glowing like this was... well, quite a sight to witness. The wide, obviously heavy doors were pulled open, the inside of the gate was glowing almost proudly. The figures of the ryoka cast long shadows behind them, nearly reaching where I was standing. And because I was standing too far to actually see the humans, I had to guess their appearance from the outlines of these shades.
The shadow closest to me was obviously a woman's who had long hair - there was only one female in the ryoka lot, so I was sure that it was her - Inoue Orihime. Then there was one with shortish, smooth hair. I assumed that was Ishida Uryuu. And the one next to that was a huge one with curly hair - Yasutora Sado.
Last, but not least, spiky, short hair. I smirked. Kurosaki Ichigo.
''Arigato, Ichigo.''
I blinked when I heard those words escaping Kuchiki Rukia's mouth, and I let out a small scoff. She beat me to even thinking that phrase.
Kurosaki turned around to look at the shinigami with a smile. And with that, the group soon disappeared in the growing light. I looked over to Ukitake, and he seemed to have a sheepish, somewhat shameful look on his face.
''...With formal path, you do mean one where they don't need to run for their lives like crazy, right?'' I asked and the captain twitched before looking at me with a nervous smile, scratching the back of his head. I sighed as I looked ahead at the Senkai gate.
My eyes flickered when I saw Kuchiki Rukia. Smiling slightly I walked over to her. ''Ne, Kuchiki Rukia-san!'' This was the first time I had ever actually interacted with her, now that I thought about it. She blinked at me, and violet eyes stared at amethyst.
''You're from that time...!'' she said, and I smiled slightly as I scratched the back of my head when the captains started leaving.
Somehow, I had the feeling that I was going to see the ryoka soon. That they'd have more than enough time to complain their asses of about the passage.
Just as Yamamoto-soutaichou said...the fight wasn't over yet.
Quite the opposite.
It's just begun.
-Owari-
A/N: Well, this is the last chapter for this arc. . .Yes, honestly, no bullcrap. XD But I'll be posting another Side-story chapter with all the details of what'll happen and so on and so forth.
Thank you to all those who have reviewed! Please tell me what you think of this chapter!
And a special thanks to Dragon of Twilight for editing this. Please check out her works as well! And don't forget to review them!...Pretty please?
~Hate it? Love it? Something in between? Can't decide?
Review, review, REVIEW!!!
.Jibun no Omoi
One's Memories.