AN: So, I am sorry for the long wait but things have come up that prolonged the release of this chapter. I am still in the process of typing up chapters for Hollowed By Thy Life, Eternal Spiral, Ultranumb and a few other of my stories.
This is a long chapter though, and things are really starting to get interesting I think, so enjoy the chapter. The next chapter will be up, hopefully within the next week or two.
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Broken Hearts.
Chapter 5: Chaos Ensues Part II.
Weeks passed, and things couldn't be anymore abnormal as far as Ichigo was concerned.
Miyuki on the other hand enjoyed it, it gave her something interesting to do, though every now and then she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that overwhelmed her. As if a storm were coming and she wasn't sure how much of a clusterfuck it would turn out to be.
Between the Hollows that appeared nearly every other day and High School, Miyuki didn't have time to complain about boredom. Though, she didn't necessarily like the school aspect of what she had to put up with. She wondered how humans could handle spending half their life doing this sort of thing.
She remembered when she was alive there was school, but even the civilians didn't go after the age of thirteen or twelve – she wasn't positive as most civilians were taught at home by their parents.
Hell, the Ninja Academy only went for about four years, and a student had the chance to graduate nearly once a year. She had failed the exam three times herself, and was only promoted to genin at twelve because she'd learned the Shadow clone, and defeated Mizuki.
That was all beside the point, she supposed. The point was, Ichigo was lucky she liked him so much, not just anyone would go to such lengths to help him with his new duty. Though, she hadn't really done more than begin to train him, and throw a few clones around to help him with more evasive Hollows.
The only time she'd ever truly helped him had been against a particularly nasty Hollow; Shrieker.
Miyuki glared as one of her shadow clones was dispelled by the leach like bombs Shriekers so called 'artillery' spat from their mouths. Looking over at Ichigo who had shed his body and had his Zanpakutō out and ready, she narrowed her eyes slightly in determination.
"I'm down to five clones..." she grimaced, sighing. "Makes that two clones. You ready, this one is some of the worst out there despite being young."
Ichigo looked slightly taken aback by her words, but nodded.
"How do you know he's young?"
Miyuki snorted.
"He's got quite a bit of intelligence that's true, but even the young Hollows can possess that. The fact is he's simply a Hollow, not evolved, but still one of the more powerful Hollows we've crossed so far."
"What is this nuisance! You are not a Soul Reaper, are you some sort of witch then?" Shrieker demanded, coming to stand in front of them, clearly annoyed by her clones.
Miyuki raised an eyebrow at this, and muttered, "That's a new one."
"Whatever." Ichigo moved forward in a stance Miyuki had helped him with. He was obviously annoyed with the frog-bat Hollow. "Your fight is with me, Shrieker."
The Hollow laughed, before sending out his frog shaped leach-bombers. Miyuki took a step back, and Ichigo raced forward. He swung, cutting through the frogs easily.
"Keh, that all you got?" he asked, and Miyuki gasped in realization seconds later.
Shrieker laughed yet again, and Miyuki turned her gaze back to the leaches still pulsing in the guts of the frogs, which had spilled out on the ground around Ichigo, and were still very much active.
She bit back a gasp as she worked out just why the Hollow was so annoyingly amused at Ichigo's question.
"Aren't you forgetting something, Substitute Soul Reaper?"
Ichigo spent a few seconds trying to understand what Shrieker meant when it hit him, and his eyes widened. Miyuki raced to his side, even though she knew the bombers probably wouldn't hurt him fatally.
She still couldn't stop her instinct to help, even when alive her instinct to protect had been great. As the bombers were set off, Kicking up smoke and dust in the process, and blocking Rukia and Chad's view, Miyuki had already reached his side.
When the dust cleared they could see a bewildered Ichigo standing in a shinning dome of golden-orange chains. Chains which appeared to be coming from Miyuki's body itself.
"What the...is this for real?" Rukia wondered aloud, her eyes wide as she took in the chain barrier, which left both Ichigo and Miyuki without a scratch. "Is this part of her abilities as a Hollow?"
"What are you, girl?" Shrieker demanded, his voice showing little more than anger. Then he scoffed, shaking the little surprise he felt off. "It doesn't matter, die!"
His arm shot out just as the Chakra chains disintegrated into embers of golden-orange particles, the barrier dissipating, and Ichigo's eyes narrowed. Without warning he shot forward, his sword nearly severing Shriekers arm from his body completely.
Ichigo smirked darkly.
"You shouldn't have threatened my friends, Shrieker."
"You little runt!" Shrieker roared, rearing back in pain.
As the Hollow was about to attack he had a very sharp Zanpakutō suddenly at his throat.
"Tell me, you're the reason Yūichi is stuck inside that cockatiel, aren't you?" Ichigo asked, voice sharp, and eyes glaring like dark ice. "You're the reason...his mother's dead!"
"So what if I am?"
Miyuki's eyes grew colder by the second. If there was one thing the crimson haired Arrancar hated it was those who killed for the sake of killing. Those who made a game out of others misery.
Clinching her fist, her eyes hard and a cold azure blue, she concentrated on materializing her Zanpakutō. She couldn't release it while in her Gigai, but she rarely had to unless she was training with one of the others. Very few ever warranted the release of their weapons, much less their full power.
Shrieker cried out in pain as a long, rather thin, but razor sharp sword sliced through his chest. Ichigo looked over in surprise, following the blade up to the hilt where two pale hands gripped it, and further up to were his brown eyes met blue.
"Mi..yuki?" he muttered, his gaze flickering from her face set in stone to the black hilt of her sword.
Black ribbon wrapped around the void black hilt, and trailed down at the pommel. The blade was longer than a standard Katana by a few inches, and a dark, bloody crimson. Darker than her hair by a few shades.
Miyuki twisted her blade, drawing a yell of pain from Shrieker. Despite the high pain tolerance most Hollows possessed, they still felt pain. Not to mention her Zanpakutō was part of her, her power, soul, and chakra.
Her chakra, that is her Bijū chakra, was corrosive, and very painful to a foreign system. Most Bijū chakra was, but not to the extent that the Kyūbi no Yōko had been (or was as the case may be).
"You make me sick," she said, voice full of her disgust for him, her eyes flashing as red as her hair. "It doesn't mater what your answer is, your still not leaving here alive, that is my promise."
Ichigo had never seen Miyuki like this before, but under the circumstances didn't do more than nod, and turn his attention back to Shrieker. Yuki was right, the Hollow wasn't leaving alive.
Miyuki withdrew her Zanpakutō, and with a hiss and groan he began to speak, "The Kid was easy to manipulate. He believed anything I told him. If I said I could turn the sky green he'd take it as truth, so when I told him I could reunite him and his mother he practically asked how high he should jump."
Shrieker laughed, amused by his own recollection of memories.
"Why? Why would he believe that?" Miyuki wondered aloud, unknowingly echoing Rukia's question to Yūichi.
"Because he wanted to believe!" he admitted, still laughing. "You see, I did kill the twerps mother; oh, she was a tricky one. I stabbed her eight times yet she still ran, all the time protecting the kid."
Ichigo and Miyuki listened with sick attention as the Hollow gloated of his last kill. It was then Ichigo realized why this sounded so familiar.
"Wait, you're that serial killer from a few years ago," he stated.
"Oh, so you do know of me...I'm glad," he replied smugly. "The fact is I got sloppy. I followed the kid to the balcony, to make a clean job of it. Then the snot nosed brat caught my shoe laces, and I lost my balance. I fell, twenty stories down; who would of thought...taken down by a kid. Still, I was dead, I was pissed and I wanted payback!"
Shrieker laughed shortly.
"So I tracked him down, sucked out his soul, and stuck it in that stupid bird. I told him if he could run from me for three months I'd bring his mommy back to life."
"What?" Ichigo breathed, eyes wide. "How could you do that?"
Miyuki thought she heard the faintest trace of hope in his voice, and she sighed. This whole ordeal must be a terrible reminder of when Masaki died.
"He can't," Miyuki said, looking over to catch Ichigo's eyes in comfort. "Bringing someone back to life is beyond anyone's abilities, not even the Reiō-sama himself could accomplish that, and his power far exceeds even my own."
She said this last part more softly, mostly for Ichigo's ears, not that Shrieker would understand if he had heard. He was far too young to have heard the legends yet, and she doubted he was well liked among Hollows.
She didn't bother mentioning that once upon a time there had been a way to revive the dead, two in fact. One was an abomination, that she was sure the Nidaime Hokage probably regretted creating, and the second involved self sacrifice. A life for a life.
"Your little girlfriend is right, I couldn't bring her back. No one could, not after what I did to her!"
She could tell the words the Hollow continued to say were effecting Ichigo, and not in a good way. His eyes got wide as the Hollow taunted Yūichi's love for his mother. Yuki kept a cool head, her training as a ninja and the fact she had over 3,000 years of practice playing a part of this. Though, considering she'd lost it earlier...but she'd been expecting it this time. She'd been caught off guard then.
Ichigo reacted far more viciously than she'd thought. He grabbed the leach bombers out of the air, and punched the Hollow, breaking through a portion of his mask where his mouth was.
"Aren't you gonna activate your bombs now?" he asked darkly, eyes flashing. "Come on, do that thing you did before to set them off. No?"
An almost cruel grin spread across his face, and she could hear the startled gasp Rukia gave. Rukia had never seen this side of Ichigo before, but then...neither had she. She'd be lying if she said it didn't startle her somewhat.
"Well, if you're not gonna use it..." Ichigo began to pull his hand free. "...then by all means, let me relieve you of the burden!"
Shrieker roared in pain as his tongue was yanked out.
"My tongue...son of a bitch!" Hollow eyes glared at Ichigo, who had thrown the tongue away from him. "I'll kill you!"
Ichigo snorted, sneered and jumped forward, his sword cutting through Shrieker's mask like butter.
He screamed in his final moments, while Rukia approached, and Ichigo and Miyuki both watched as the doors to hell appeared and began to open. Ichigo could feel the ominous prescience behind the doors, it made his stomach turn for a moment, but it was nothing to Miyuki's reaction.
The Hollow Queen took a step back, arms folded across her middle, as if to hold herself together. There was even a hint of fear in her wide blue eyes.
"The Gates of Hell," Yuki muttered.
Rukia nodded, coming to stand beside Miyuki. She was not terribly shocked a Hollow would have adverse effects around the Gates. It was probably like the bogyman humans told their children about for Hollows.
"What?" Ichigo asked, looking back at them.
He looked at Miyuki, and instantly noticed that when Shrieker was impaled on a spear of sorts from within the gates, that she took a final step back. A slight shiver ran over her that probably wouldn't be noticeable to most, but he'd known Yuki longer than he could remember.
Finally he asked, "Yuki, are you alright?"
"The Gates aren't here for us," Rukia said, sending a glance at Miyuki. Trying to be comforting, or at least sympathetic. She herself didn't necessarily like being in the Gates presence either. "The Zanpakutō of a Shinigami may cleanse a Hollow of sins, but only those committed as a Hollow. To those souls that were wicked in life, like Shrieker, the gates leading to Hell opens to claim them."
Seconds after she finished explaining the gates finally finished closing, and Miyuki sighed in relief, running a hand through her hair. It was kind of embarrassing, being afraid on some level of the Gates of Hell, but on some level that was instinctual for all souls; good or evil, living or dead.
She wasn't even sure what would happen to her should she ever die. If she could, she was an Arrancar, true, but she was also a Bijū and it was near impossible for a Bijū to die. What made her fearful was not only Hollow instinct, but her curiosity that in the event of her death, where would her soul go?
To the reincarnation cycle, Soul Society, or Hell? She was a Shinobi in life, she'd killed her fair share of humans when living, though she'd never taken joy out of it. But did being a Bijū mean it was the only place they could go, if they ever truly died?
Consciously she knew she was being foolish. She'd not only lived during a different era, but she'd been to Soul Society before, and seen many Shinobi. Kiba, Hinata, Neji, Rock Lee, basically all the Rookie nine to be honest, and then some (not all from Konoha).
The thing about Shinobi was they tended to keep most if not all their memories after death. It was because of their use of chakra this occurred, though it all depended on how powerful one was when alive to how much if any memory they kept after death.
Still, she wasn't fond of watching the Gates of Hell open, but she doubted anyone was.
"Yuki...Yuki-chan are you alright?"
Miyuki snapped out of her thoughts instantly at that. It was rare he called her Yuki-chan, he hadn't added the suffix since he was about nine or ten. Around the time Masaki died, and he'd all but stopped smiling. Miyuki looked over at Ichigo, and smiled up at him.
"I'm fine, just not fond of those gates," she began. "I've only seen them open a handful of times, and that was one time too many in my opinion."
"Agreed," Ichigo said, placing his sword back on his back sheath. Miyuki's Zanpakutō had long since dematerialized.
"Come on, I'll see if I can place Yūichi's soul back into his body." Rukia sighed. "You'll have to preform a Konsō if not, Ichigo."
The three walked over to where Ichigo's body, Chad and Yūichi were, and Miyuki watched silently as Rukia checked Yūichi's soul chain. She sighed when she could clearly see that there would be no help they could give except to Konsō the boy.
Seconds later Yuki watched as Yūichi was sent onto Soul Society, and could only pray for his sake he was placed in a relatively good District of Rukongai. It had been a long time since she'd last seen it herself, but she doubted it had changed much.
"I'm sorry we couldn't do more for Yūichi, Chad," Yuki told the much taller teen.
She actually had to crane her neck a bit just so she could look him in the eyes. She could take comfort in the fact she wasn't the shortest out of the four of them, Rukia probably had it worse.
Chad nodded shortly, but she could tell he understood there was nothing that could be done.
"It is alright, I realize you did the best you could."
Chad barely gave any reaction when Ichigo's body began to stand again, but she just took that as Rukia having explained at least the basic's to him.
"Miyuki, I have to ask...how were you able to create those chains and materialize your Zanpakutō in Gigai?"
Miyuki eyed Rukia for a moment, as if trying to discern if she was worthy of a honest answer or not.
Finally she answered, "My Zanpakutō is strongly bonded to me, and as I might have mentioned before, has a spirit much like a Shinigami's would. Even in Gigai I can materialize it for a time period, but I can't release it or end up obliterating my Gigai and possibly half the block."
Rukia was visibly startled. "And the chains?"
Ichigo nodded. "Yeah, they seemed to be coming from your back or somethin'"
Yuki frowned.
"That is more complicated," she said, and pondered her answer. "Let's just say It's something I inherited from my mother, and leave it at that for now."
Rukia didn't look like she liked the rather cryptic answer, but nodded anyways. She knew there was a lot Yuki hid from them, but understood she had her reasons. Ichigo was quicker to nod, knowing she'd explain when she was ready.
She was glad she could offer some help, besides simply helping Ichigo with training. She could also honestly say that over time the Soul Reaper, Kuchiki Rukia, had grown on her. Though young, by Miyuki's terms at least, she proved competent when it counted.
About a week after Gaara's visit was one of those times. When she'd taken on Shrieker, the Hollow after the young boys soul stuck in a cockatiel, and by extension, Chad himself.
Both of them had proven their worth to her that day, as she'd arrived in time to see Chad helping to take out the Hollow without even being able to see it. Rukia had shown a backbone and will to not back down she hadn't been aware existed in the noble girl.
Before she'd arrived she'd been calming Yuzu down, seeing as both Karin and Ichigo had suddenly gone missing, but once she'd done this she'd gone after them. First she'd run into Ichigo and Karin, Ichigo having to bring Karin back before he could concentrate on the threat. He had wasted no time sending her after Rukia.
Miyuki had in the beginning thought Rukia foolish, taking on a Hollow with little to no power. She'd later admit she had been wrong, and she'd have probably done the same to buy Ichigo time if she were in Rukia's place.
Rukia had also proved willing to help teach Ichigo what Miyuki didn't know of Soul Reapers. Unfortunately, Ichigo just wasn't a Kidō type. It reminded Miyuki of her own chakra control issues as a human. She wasn't sure how to help Ichigo with that, yet at least.
"Yuki-neechan, breakfast is ready," Yuzu called, interrupting her thoughts about the last few weeks.
"I'll be down in a minute, Yuzu!"
She had intended to find her own place, but when Isshin had met her he'd insisted she stay with them. She wasn't surprised he recognized her Gigai, he'd seen it before at his and Masaki's small wedding ceremony.
The surprise was that he'd offered her Ichigo's bed, while Ichigo could sleep on the couch until a time when the guest room was cleared out of the boxes of stored items. She'd respectively declined taking Ichigo's bed, but didn't mind a futon on the boys bedroom floor.
Isshin had surprisingly agreed, quicker than she'd expected. Though poor Ichigo had gotten a long talk on being a gentlemen and not taking advantage of girls sharing a room with him – leading her to believe he knew of Rukia living in his closet – as well as always using protection if they ended up giving into urges.
Ichigo's reaction was hilarious, but she almost felt bad for him.
Almost.
"She forgets this is my room too." Ichigo sighed from where he sat up in bed. "I think my sisters like you more, Yuki."
Miyuki chuckled, and walked over to the door.
"I'm sure that's not true, Ichigo."
Ichigo shrugged, getting to his feet and following her out. He continued on to the stairs as she entered the bathroom, most likely to take a shower.
"I'll see you downstairs," he said.
Yuki nodded as she shut the door, and Ichigo headed downstairs.
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"Hey, Rukia wait up!" Miyuki called after her, jogging to catch up, her bright hair flying behind her.
Looking behind her Rukia smiled. Even after weeks of knowing her, she still found it surreal how well Yuki blended in as a normal sixteen year old girl – well, almost sixteen for her cover. She'd revealed that her birthday was in October.
Rukia doubted anyone would ever guess that the girl in front of her was a Hollow.
"Miyuki," she greeted, and the girl gave a common smile, that was neither fake or completely real.
Her true smiles, the ones that reached her eyes, were rare. Rukia had only witnessed them given to those closest to her. Such as Ichigo, his family and that Gaara guy, now that she thought about it.
That had been awhile ago though, she'd nearly forgotten about him, and they hadn't seen the other Arrancar since.
"Let me walk with you. I also have something to pick up from Kisuke's," Yuki told her.
Rukia furrowed her brow, and frowned as they began walking towards the Shōten.
"If you don't mind me asking, what are you picking up?"
Blue eyes met her violet before Yuki answered, "The same thing as you I figure." She smiled in her fox-like manner. "A special Gikongan I've used in the past to get out of my Gigai, should I ever need to."
Rukia nodded, that made sense. It explained why she never seemed to leave her Gigai.
"You seem capable without leaving your gigai, though. I've never seen anyone able to materialize their Zanpakutō in gigai, or use those chains of yours."
"Yes, well it took practice, and Kisuke especially designed this gigai for me. With me being an Arrancar and all there were certain modifications that needed to be made," she explained, giving a short laugh.
It was only seconds before they reached the Shōten, and Miyuki scoffed at the treatment the red-haired kid out front was giving a slightly older, dark haired girl. Rukia had a similar expression as she observed the two as well; Jinta and Ururu she though were their names.
"Why is it you're always fighting when I see you?" Rukia questioned, interrupting the two.
"Hmm, you shouldn't pick on girls like that Jinta," Miyuki added, drawing the now wide and slightly panicked eyes to her position beside Rukia. "I'd hate to have to let Tessai know."
"Mi-miyuki," Jinta practically stuttered out, and Ururu blinked once or twice up at them before smiling, a faint blush of embarrassment on her cheeks.
"Is there a problem?" Tessai asked, coming from inside the shop as if he'd heard his name.
"Nothing...just sweeping, just sweeping," Jinta said quickly, clutching as the broom in his hands and moved as far away as he could while sweeping.
Ururu followed his example, bowing respectively at the two teens before she did.
Tessai shook his head at the antics of the two before he said, "Jinta, Ururu, come inside and help there, please."
He turned back to Miyuki and Rukia and held up a hand, bowing slightly. "Please, come inside to wait, Mr. Urahara will be with you in a minute."
"No need to wait, Tessai, I'm up," Kisuke said, coming from the back yawning. Looking at the two girls with the larger man, he smiled. "Ah, Ms. Kuchiki, Yuki-hime, how can I help you?"
Rukia was a bit taken aback by how familiar Urahara was with Miyuki, but decided to let it go. Knowing Miyuki and Urahara she'd not get an answer anyway.
"My shipment, is it in?" she asked instead, and Urahara blinked before it came to him and he nodded.
"Right of course," he stated. "It's just in the back."
"I'm here for Amehana," Miyuki said, and Kisuke's expression hardly changed, as if he was expecting this.
"Amehana?" Rukia asked, looking between the two in confusion.
"My Gikongan," Miyuki answered the slightly shorter ravenette.
What she chose not to reveal was the fact Amehana was a Mod Soul, mistakenly shipped out with other Gikongan. She'd gotten a hold of it from Kisuke who would have no other choice but to destroy, report, or store it indefinitely otherwise.
"Okaa-sama, you've returned!" a childlike voice cried, interrupting anything Rukia might say.
Miyuki let out a small groan at the small form which barreled into her, knocking her breath from her. Rukia's gasp was probably heard throughout the store. Kisuke hid a smile behind his fan as the young noble took a closer look at the little girl who called Yuki her mother.
It was clear the girl wasn't a Hollow or even an Arrancar. So she dismissed the idea the girl, no older than Ururu or Jinta, was Yuki's biological daughter; despite the two having similar facial features.
She was no taller than 4'7, and her hair was straight and rather neat in the way it fell around her face and down her back to her butt. It was a bright silver-gray color that had icy blue tints throughout it. In the right light it could easily be mistaken as a very pale icy blue. Her skin was pale, but not quite ivory toned.
Her eyes were a unique hot pink. She wore a kimono which was leaf green in color and had silver swirling designs at the edges and running up it. Her obi on the other hand was a pale icy blue, like the color that highlighted her hair, but bluer by a single shade. She wore no shoes.
"Ame-chan, it's only been a month or so..."
"Two months, Okaa-sama, but it's okay I understand," the child said, grinning. "Oji-sama said you were looking after my new Otou-sama."
Not that Amehana had ever had one before, which was why she was so excited when Kisuke-Oji had told her about the boy her mother was helping and would be her Otou-sama. Miyuki's eyes widened at Amehana's words though, and she turned a chilling glare onto Kisuke, who simply laughed nervously behind his fan.
"Did he now?" she stated rhetorically.
Being of a childlike mindset, Amehana nodded her head and answered, "Yep!"
Rukia coughed to get their attention and they all looked at her, making her kind of nervous.
"Yuki, who is this?" she asked, and the little girl grinned and nearly hopped over to stand in front of her.
"Hello, my name is Amehana, Uzumaki Amehana, Believe it!"
Rukia had to stop a laugh at how adorable the icy haired girl was, but noticed Urahara had no such qualms over showing his amusement. For a second she wanted to slam the mans stupid fan over his head, or maybe hit him with her shoe.
Miyuki, who'd been smiling herself, though Rukia missed how she'd twitched at the strange verbal tick Amehana had given (how the Mod-Soul got a verbal tick similar to her own was beyond Miyuki), sneezed.
"Wait," Rukia began, "You said Amehana was a Gikongan..."
"She is. She's simply...special," Yuki explained. "She usually resides with Kisuke in a gigai, like now, or in her stuffed animal." She pointed to the stuffed bunny Amehana held.
Rukia repressed a squeal of delight, and instead just smiled.
"How adorable! Do you like bunnies too, little one?"
Amehana grinned back, nodding vibrantly and just like that Rukia forgot to question Miyuki's strange story of Amehana being special compared to normal Gikongan. In truth she hadn't lied.
Amehana was special, a Modified Soul. The soul of a young child who since Miyuki had saved her took to calling her mother (because in Amehana's mind that was exactly who Miyuki was). As a mod-soul she had abilities, but she wasn't fond of fighting, so she acted mostly as way to get Miyuki quickly out of her Gigai.
She snorted, her eyes amused as Ame and Rukia discussed Chappy the Rabbit together. They both seemed to have an odd fascination for the Animal. Similar to the fondness she held for foxes she supposed.
"Ah, anyway," Kisuke began, sitting on the raised part of the Shōten as was the norm for him. "Ururu, will you go get Ms. Kuchiki's order from the back. You can't miss it..."
"Uh, oh alright," Ururu said, shyly, and headed into the back.
"Okaa-sama, can I come home with you and Rukia-Oneesama?" Amehana asked once she'd finished talking about Chappy to her new friend.
"That was the idea, Ame-chan," Yuki said, moving to sit beside Urahara, and Amehana wasted no time running over and jumping into her lap. "You'll have to be in your plushie form, though."
Amehana pouted, but nodded. She didn't mind being in her bunny form, she did prefer her gigai, but being able to spend more time with Okaa-sama made up for it. Rukia was amused, the Gikon really believed Miyuki to be her mother. It was rather sweet.
"Now, lets see...sixty tablets of..." Rukia walked to stand to the side of where Urahara sat, working with a calculator on her order. "And... now, Ms. Kuchiki, I don't mean to pry. Lets face it, it's really none of my business but you need to be careful. I don't need to tell you that if you use too much, and over synchronize with your gigai... then you're gonna be in for a world of hurt when you finally jump ship."
Rukia sighed.
"Believe me, I know, but lately I've had a hard time getting the smallest movement out of this thing," she said, groaning as she flexed her hand.
"Want me to check it out for you?" he asked, a rather pervy look on his grinning face. "I'll cut you a sweet deal."
Rukia growled, clinching her fist, and Miyuki sighed in annoyance. At the speed of light (or what seemed like it to those watching) she slammed the mans own fan into the top of his head, shattering it in the process. If it weren't for his hat they were sure a lump would be visible. Miyuki had her eyes closed the entire time, but opened them with a smirk at the painful sounds the blond made.
"Ow...so mean Yuki," the man said, and he shed dramatic tears for yet another fan ruined. "My fan..."
"Serves you right, ya perv," Yuki muttered. Amehana snickered and Rukia smirked in silent agreement.
"Mr. Urahara," Rukia began several seconds later. She noticed Ururu returning with a white cloth wrapped bundle. "I'm curious, why doesn't Miyuki have any problems with her gigai and how exactly did you two meet?"
"Ah, well that's a long story," Kisuke said, laughing as he rubbed the back of his head. "I actually tried to purify her, thinking her to be a threat. She soon proved that she was only a threat if I made her one."
"It wasn't the first time a know-it-all Shinigami tried to do the same," Yuki said, rolling her eyes at the memory. "If I recall, you tried the same thing, Shorty."
Rukia looked away in embarrassment, and took the bundle Ururu offered her. Inside was a duck candy dispenser and she sighed softly.
"This is the only one you could get?"
"It's the second most popular model out there, and it wasn't easy to get either."
Rukia frowned lightly, but nodded. She really wanted Chappy but this would do. It was for Ichigo anyway. Tucking the Gikongan away, Rukia looked over at Kisuke when he began to speak again.
"I believe you also asked about Miyuki's Gigai. Truth be told I had to create hers especially for her, seeing as she is an Arrancar, and a quite unique one at that. To be honest a regular gigai practically blew up when she attempted to settle in it. That is because they were first created with Shinigami in mind."
"I don't have the problem you're having because this gigai was designed for me. It's the closest to being human again I'll ever get," Miyuki admitted.
Rukia bit her lip as she processed this. She regretted asking further questions about Miyuki's gigai now, she didn't mean to bring up a possibly sore subject.
"I don't think I have to tell you, and Yuki to be careful," Kisuke stated, his tone serous. "But nonetheless, be careful Ms. Kuchiki, you can't fake it forever."
Rukia looked down slightly, nodding grimly.
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She should have realized that anything that could go wrong would. By the time they got to school it was already third period, and Rukia had dragged Ichigo off instantly. She had decided to stay put.
It was during lunch things began to get strange, she'd wondered why Ichigo and Rukia hadn't returned to class, but figured a Hollow had appeared.
When she saw Ichigo, or at least his body, outside the window, having jumped from the ground below, she'd realized something was wrong instantly. Not only was the orange haired boy outside the window acting strange but there was no way Ichigo could jump that high in his body.
Soon enough it became clear to her what was going on. At first she thought it was simply the Gikongan Rukia had picked up, but that still made no sense. A closer look at his reiatsu and the little chakra all living being had (even if they could no longer use it) told her everything she needed to know. A Kaizō Konpaku, or Modified Soul, much like Amehana was.
By the time she'd come out of her own thoughts she'd been shocked to find the Mod-Soul was a brazen one as he had not only come onto Orihime, but also kissed Tatsuki's cheek. That was around the time all hell broke loose, and Miyuki found herself unable to do anything but watch as Tatsuki began attacking the Mod-Soul in Ichigo's body.
By the time the second desk had been thrown, this time exiting the window and she looked ready to hurl yet another desk, Miyuki stepped in. standing between them, she held her hands out, one towards each of them to keep them separated.
"Move Miyuki, he needs to feel pain!" Tatsuki nearly roared, and Yuki twitched at the extent of her friends temper.
"Okay, that's enough," she said, "Tatsuki I think Ichigo's learned his lesson...right Ichigo?"
Looking at the Mod-Soul she gave him a look, that clearly told him she had an idea he wasn't Ichigo. Unfortunately that wasn't what caught the Mod-Soul's attention, but how beautiful the girl was.
Long red-hair, which was nearly straight but waved and curled slightly towards the ends. It was barely noticeable, her bright, yet dark red hair the most noticeable trait about her. Her skin was fair and on the ivory side of skin tone. Three exotic whisker birthmarks on each cheek. Her eyes were a deep ocean blue, brighter than the sky. She was also nicely built, curvy though on the short side, probably not much over five feet.
Other than the orange haired girl, Orihime, she was probably the pretties, most developed girl out of the whole class.
"Uh, Ichigo?" she questioned, but any words she might say were interrupted by the arms around her waist and the lips covering her own.
Her eyes widened sharply as she stood nearly on her tiptoes in order to keep her balance against the taller boy, her brain trying to catch up with exactly what was happening. Her mind didn't kick in until she felt a foreign tongue slip inside her mouth. The kiss lasted a few more seconds after this, but before she could go about punching Ichigo, the door slammed open.
"Stop this right.. now!" a familiar voice shouted in demand, and then seemed to waiver as she saw what exactly was going on.
The Mod-Soul backed off, turning to see the girl who'd given him to Ichigo standing there in apparent shock. Looking towards the window he saw an equally shocked, and one could say almost horrified, substitute soul reaper. Rukia wasn't the only one to see him kissing Miyuki, Ichigo had arrived in time to see the end of the kiss as well.
"Huh, guess it's time to go," the Mod-Soul said, only to be interrupted by a intense dark aura and voice.
"I don't think so..."
Turning, the Mod Souls eyes widened.
Miyuki stood with her head bowed, hands clinched into fist at her side. It seemed as if a blazing aura of crimson which bled into orange and black at the edges of the aura, taking the silhouette of a large grinning nine-tailed fox, had appeared.
When she looked up at him through her bangs, he shrank back slightly at the now dark, nearly glowing eyes. Like a predator stalking their pray in the dark.
"That was my first kiss...you BASTARD!" She shouted, and the Mod-Soul barely had time to dodge her punch, which hit the blackboard, cracking it harshly.
The whole class stared in horror and some fear as Miyuki, a usually cool headed girl, chased who they thought to be Ichigo down, damaging even more desk and other school property in order to catch the orangette. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Ichigo, the Mod-Soul was able to avoid her attacks.
"Ichigo!" Rukia exclaimed, shaking her head to clear it.
Ichigo who had been to shocked to do anything before finally snapped back to reality and moved to stop the Mod Soul who had just avoided a drop kick from delivered by a still upset Miyuki. He couldn't help but feel relieved that the Mod Soul had dodged after seeing the damage Yuki's kick inflicted.
At the same time he he wanted to do worse to the Mod-Soul using his body. Now that he had come back to his senses one would be able to see a explosive amount of anger in his eyes, and if they looked closely a little jealousy (not that he was even aware of what the feelings he was feeling were exactly).
"You're not going anywhere, buddy," Ichigo sneered, eyes narrowed at the soul inside his body who had, in less than an hour, shot his reputation to hell.
The Mod-Soul smirked and attacked, surprising Ichigo. Miyuki herself had calmed down enough to watch as the two Ichigo's fought. She hadn't been lying when she'd said that was her first kiss, well if one didn't count the ones she and Sasuke shared when alive – both being complete accidents on their parts. But she'd never had a real kiss, what was now called a french kiss by the humans she believed.
The only relief she felt was that it was Ichigo's body that had stolen her first kiss.
'Wait...what?' Yuki thought to herself, shaking those thoughts which she had no idea where had come from. The little voice in the back of her mind though whispered otherwise.
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Several minutes later (close to half a hour to be honest), Miyuki groaned as Ichigo tightened a ripped piece of her uniform blazer around her slim waist, covering her wound. She sat with the white shirt worn under it unbuttoned from the bottom up until her ribcage, to give room for Ichigo to tend to her wound.
She had planned to wait, and take care of it herself, or even get Rukia or Kisuke to help her...but Ichigo had insisted it be taken care of sooner rather than later. Considering it was rather deep, despite not being life threatening to someone like her, she had given in. Even if it was already healing by the time he'd begun to clean the wound the best he could in their current situation.
She may not have the healing in a gigai that she had out of it, and she had some of the best instant regeneration out of any of the other deities, but she still had healing that bordered on regeneration, much as she had as a human. After all, she was still an Uzumaki, and their vitality, longevity, and stamina was legendary.
She hadn't said anything as she'd sat down though. Instead she'd began moving her clothes out of the way. At first the orangette had reacted like she'd thought he would, like any prude (for lack of better word) would. Especially when it looked as if she intended to unbutton the white shirt completely.
Several minutes later, and despite nothing but her stomach area being bare the boy was still bright red, and keeping his eyes glued on the wound, and away from anything that a fifteen year old boy might look at.
He's such a prude, she thought with a mental laugh and amusement. It was kind of endearing, most teenaged boys these days were perverts, and after having two sensei's who were perverts in their own rights she could spot one easily.
Ichigo was probably where the definitions of chivalry and a gentleman came from, come to think of it.
"There," Ichigo said, as he secured the fabric that had been ripped from her blazer to wrap the wound. "That should hold, you should let my dad look at it later. He could do more."
"I'm sure it'll be mostly healed by then, but I'll still let him take a look."
Still Miyuki nodded, before allowing the white shirt to fall back down into place at the sides, where she'd been holding them out of the way. Taking pity on Ichigo, she re-buttoned her shirt before she took his offered hand up.
"I'm sorry you got hurt, Yuki," Ichigo said, and Miyuki shook her head.
"Really Ichigo, I'm fine," she said. "I'll take a hell of a lot more than that measly scratch to kill me."
"If that's what you call a scratch, I'd hate to see what you call fatal," Ichigo said dryly, but nonetheless he still felt it was his fault she had gotten hurt.
He hadn't been fast enough to stop the Hollow, and she'd had to protect the Mod-Soul powering his body. Looking over at the Mod-Soul, he narrowed his eyes, yet he couldn't place all the blame on the soul inhabiting his body.
"So, what's the big deal?" Ichigo asked, walking over to the Mod-Soul, who was kneeling down to watch a line of ants move by.
"Sorry...I guess I got caught up in the freedom having a body gave me." The Mod-Soul sighed.
"Why did you save those kids, before you seemed ready to finish them yourself?" Miyuki couldn't help but ask.
When she had arrived to find the Soul helping those kids, she'd been confused. Hadn't he been ready to beat them into oblivion a few minutes before?
"It's complicated, you see I had to help them. If I hadn't they would have been killed...no one should have the right to kill anyone!" He shook his head angrily. "Right after my birth the Soul Society sent out the order to destroy all Mod-Souls. The very day I was born they gave me a death sentence simply for existing."
Ichigo's eyes widened as he listened to the Modified Soul. He had heard of what Soul Society had done to the Mod-Souls from Miyuki, who only knew the bare basic's because of Amehana (who'd he'd met briefly), but hearing from the Mod-Soul himself left an impact.
He simply couldn't imagine the sort of betrayal the Mod-Souls must have felt, they had done nothing but exist and were executed for Soul Societies mistakes.
Miyuki listened with a grim frown, and narrowed eyes filled with hints of anger, but mostly sadness and understanding. She could understand how the soul felt, she remembered the sense of betrayal and defeat she'd felt when she was still human. Growing up in a village that hated her until much later in her life. Even then, there had always been quite a few who wouldn't and couldn't let go of their hate for her as the Jinchūriki of Kyūbi.
"I waited, fearing the inevitable, watching helplessly as the others were disposed of. My friends...family. But just as I thought it was over, I got lucky and was shipped out by mistake. It didn't matter though, I figured it was just borrowed time, until they found me and got rid of me. I've been alone a long time now, and It's given me time to think."
The Mod-Soul smiled sadly.
"I decided that no one should have the right to take someone life away! I exist, and I have a right to continue living my life as long as I want to! So I refuse to take another life."
The was silence after that, but seconds later it was interrupted.
"Looky what we have here, and you're all beat up and wore out," a man in his early to mid twenties said. He had blonde hair under a distinctive white and green hat. "All that trouble for nothing, it seems."
"Wha..." The Mod-Soul was interrupted by the guys cane connecting with his forehead, forcing the pill from Ichigo's body.
Yuki sighed, things were going to get complicated in the future, she could already see it – figuratively speaking.
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The next day, Miyuki watched in amusement as the Mod-Soul, now residing in a stuffed lion, dive bombed onto Ichigo's chest in order to wake him up.
Or try, at least. After Kisuke had shown up yesterday for the Mod-Soul there was a small talk between them all, when Rukia arrived to take the Mod-Soul.
She'd been seconds from doing the same, she couldn't allow the Mod-Soul to be destroyed, even if he did annoy her a lot, he was practically Amehana's kin.
They left soon after, and after school on the way home, Ichigo had found the stuffed lion on a pile of trash. Seeing as it was seemingly unhurt it was perfect for housing the Mod-Soul.
They knew it would work since Ame was currently in a plushie – explaining to Rukia and Ichigo that Amehana was indeed a Mod-Soul had come earlier, before they'd left the roof of the Middle School.
"Argh, dammit Kon, get off me!" Ichigo exclaimed, sitting up.
"Huh, Kon?" the lion plushie echoed.
"You're name," Ichigo said, running a hand through his hair. "It's short for Kaizō Konpaku."
"What...but why do you get to choose? I think I like Mod better!" Kon exclaimed, but Miyuki could tell that a part of him was relieved and as much as he would deny it touched that Ichigo had named him.
She didn't know how long Kon had been alive, but he'd most likely never had a name until now.
Ichigo raised an eyebrow, shrugging.
"Kon..."
"No, it's not cool or anything. Mod is a cooler name!"
"You're right, it is, which is why you're Kon," Ichigo said, a faint smirk on his face.
Miyuki chuckled, standing from where she had sat brushing out her long hair. Walking towards the door, she heard Rukia leave the closet. Something that was quickly becoming her closet in their minds, considering she'd been living in there for a little over a month now.
Miyuki blinked and couldn't help the snickers that escaped when she realized the position Rukia was in. from where she stood, half glaring at Ichigo, she hadn't realized Kon had landed on the ground under her. Giving him a good view up her school skirt.
"Nice..." Kon muttered, loud enough to alert Ichigo and Rukia.
"Ahhrg!" Rukia practically growled, her glare focused full force on the stuffed lion she'd begun stomping on. "You little pervert!"
"Help me Yuki-chan," Kon exclaimed, escaping from under Rukia's foot.
Miyuki was visibly startled when Kon flew towards her. His plushie body colliding with her chest and the Mod-Soul burrowed into the valley of her breast. Blinking, Yuki's mind caught up to what was happening.
"Ah, Paradise..." Kon sighed happily, and Yuki's cheeks flushed in embarrassment and anger. Rukia and Ichigo didn't seem to be fairing any better, though Ichigo looked mortified as well as angry.
"Kon..." Her words were cut off as a stuffed bunny, a snow white color, collided with Kon, sending them onto the ground. The bunny throwing punches at the shocked lion.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY OKAA-SAMA!" Amehana shouted, now banging Kon's head into the ground repeatedly with each word.
"Get this crazy bunny off me, please!"
The three teens watching this all laughed at the perverted lion's plight. Seconds later, after she'd calmed down, Yuki acted, an amused smile on her face.
"Ame, you can let Kon up," she said. "I think he's learned his lesson."
Amehana, who'd been doing a bunny-like version of stomping on Kon, stopped suddenly. Smiling, if that was possible for a plushie to accomplish, the female Mod-Soul hopped off the battered lion.
"If you say so," she said, though it was obvious Amehana wasn't sure she agreed. Turning to glare at her kin, Amehana snarled.
"I'm watching you Konpaku, keep your pervy thoughts away from Okaa-sama or I'll tell Otou-sama."
At her words Ichigo turned red from embarrassment. He'd been hoping Yuki's Mod-Soul wasn't serious about calling him that. Miyuki had warned him that once Amehana chose what she called someone new, then there were little changing her mind.
It wasn't that it upset him or anything but it was a little embarrassing, especially with Ame calling Miyuki her mother. Someone could get the wrong idea, especially if she was in her gigai.
Kon backed away from Amehana, barely realizing who exactly Otou-sama was.
"Wait, so Yuki-chan is your girlfriend, Ichigo?"
As Ichigo and Miyuki turned even redder, Rukia hit the floor laughing.
Out of the mouth of Mod-Souls.
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AN: So, usually I would wait until the next chapter to mention reviews, or reply to the reviewer, but as it was a guest I can not.
Now, he or she mentioned the fact Miyuki not having been truly kissed in her long over 3,000 year old life as unrealistic.
I do not believe this is unrealistic at all, in life she was hated by the majority of the older generation and their kids. Bare the Rookie Nine, and other than Sasuke and her sharing two chaste kisses on accident, she never had the chance to be kissed.
She was away training for three years with Jiraiya after the Chunin Exams, and Sasuke's defection. When she returned thing really turned to crap with Akatsuki and the Fourth War so there was no time for boyfriends.
She died ending the war, and as a Hollow it's not exactly easy to begin a relationship, unless she were to date one of the other deities, which she wouldn't thinking of them all as her siblings. So, yeah, to clear things up there, Yuki is probably the oldest virgin in the history of anywhere.