Sorry, it's been a long while I haven't update. No excuse for that, but anyway here's another chapter.

Standard disclaimer : I do not own Bleach.

Turning right, turning left

Chapter 13 : Revelation Of The Past

I could feel the wind rustling in my ears as we flew through the trees at high speed. The woods was still veiled in the morning mist and the air was slightly chilly despite it is mid-summer now.

The group is consisting a total of eight persons. We splat into two smaller groups and moved in diamond form, with one leading in front, two at both sides and one at the back. I seldom conversed with the rest of the group along the journey unless it is deemed necessary. Even then, it'll be mainly conveyed in body sign language.

We only halted briefly, just long enough to revitalize ourselves with some water and light food before we continued our journey. And we have to be extra careful not to leave any remains behind because it could signal our location. Every second is counted on such mission. Stopping will give the enemy a little more distance and risk loosing the evidence of enemy's trail.

We traveled for one whole day until night falls when the commander finally signaled us to stop over for the night. We took turns to watch and I was the first to watch. After that, I tried to get some rest by lying down under a tree. But tried as I may, I found myself unable to sleep. Then I got up again and decided to stay awake for the night.

I sat down by the fire and looked up to the sky. I'm never one to take notice or stop to appreciate things like how beautiful the sky looks. But I must say that the sky that night was really a sight. Thousands and maybe millions of stars were scattering in the dark sky. I seldom get to see such sight back in Karakura. Those nights... I was either too occupied by rushing to the place where the hollows are or too tired that I slumped to my bed and fell asleep in no time.

"Beautiful night huh?" a voice broke my musing.

I turned and found the man who spoke to me this morning sat besides me. He lifted his mask and revealed his face. He looked neither young nor old, but I guess he's around the same age of captain Kuchiki, maybe. His face was kind but the depth in his eyes was unfathomable. I nodded slightly but I did not answer his question.

After a while, he spoke again, "I haven't introduced myself yet, have I? Anyway just call me Mitarashi. How is your day, kid? Sorry, I missed your name and what's your name again?"

"It's Kurosaki Ichigo, Mitarashi-sama. My day is fine and thanks for asking," I answered cautiously. He sounded friendly but I'm not sure what this man really wants from me.

"Good, there's four more hours to go before dawn. Tomorrow will be another long day. Are you sure you don't want to get some sleep?" he patted my shoulder like an elder brother would.

I was a little surprise but it felt awfully comfortable. Strangely after he'd mentioned it, signs of sleepiness began to catch up with me. Then I started thinking: maybe I'm being too skeptical, maybe he was just trying to be friendly and maybe I should really get some sleep.

"Is it okay if I do so?"

"Sure, go ahead. I can take care of the rest." He smiled.

I had a dreamless sleep afterwards until dawn.The second day had begun and we are up and moving again.

At last, we reached the place where the Arankaru attacked division sixth's squad at noon. Nothing much left behind except some burnt grass, torn trees and dried blood stains on the soil that evidence a fierce fight had happened there some time before. We continued to search around the area thoroughly but found nothing useful. We were too slow. Five days has been wasted before we arrived.

To come this far and for nothing!

I felt like screaming and slashing someone but in the end I only opted to slash some grass out of frustration, frustrated at both myself and the situation itself. But it didn't help to change anything. We had no choice but to head back to report to the superior.

I didn't speak a word during our journey back to Seiretei. And the rest of the group knew better than to just leave me alone to my brooding. We stopped for another night. I've volunteered to watch for the rest of the night knowing fully well that I won't be able to sleep anyway.

The sky is as beautiful as the night before but I'm not in the mood to appreciate it. Mitarashi-sama approaches in my direction again. I feel like walking away from him but I refrain. He didn't try to initiate any conversation like the night before. In fact he wasn't even looking at me. Instead he just sits by my side and begins to smoke silently.

It suddenly struck me like a deja-vu - it reminds me of my stupid dad smoking in front of mom's grave three years ago.

"I thought you already quit smoking, dad."

"I did. You know, when I started dating your mom, she made a comment once that the way I smoke looks handsome."

"Come to think about it now, that's the only time she ever complimented me of my looks. Therefore I only smoke once a year in front of her grave."

"You remind me of someone."

"Really?" he raises a curious eyebrow.

"You remind me of my dad."

"Ah..." he smiles and takes another puff of his smoke. "And you remind of me someone too, Kurosaki-kun,"

"I knew a man. You resemble him a lot, not just by appearance but also the way you speak and the way you act. He's a good man but it's a pity that he died young. If not, I'm sure you two will get along very well."

"Who is he?"

"He's Shiba Kaien, the former vice captain of division thirteen."

Shiba Kaien... I repeated his name unwittingly. Wait, that name sounds familiar, Ganju's last name is also Shiba! Could it be that they're related or even siblings?

"Sadly the Shiba clan is only left with his younger sister, Shiba Kuukaku and his youngest brother, Shiba Ganju now."

So, this man called Kaien is really the brother of Ganju. I wonder why Ganju never spoke of him in front of me before.

Just then, the air suddenly gets heavier and we both can feel the presence of some strong, unusual reiatsu. The Arankaru! They are here! Mitarashi quickly rushes to alarm the others.

I unsheathe my Zangetsu and prepare myself to fight. In just seconds, I can see that there are eight of them appear before us. Their half broken skull masks shine under the dim light of stars. Those malicious grins plastered on their face make me want to rip it down all the more.

"Let's begin, boys. Today none of you will be leaving alive."

"Says who?" I lurch forward and swing Zangetsu at him.

Author's Note:

Hooh... another chapter done.

Mitarashi is just an OC that I created accidentally, he is just a person who is supposed to know Kaien in the past. I created him in the first place because I think Ichigo ought to have someone to tell him about Kaien.

I think it's fun to have an OC sometimes because it's up to me entirely how I would like to portray his character.

As usual, please review and let me know what you think of this chapter.

YL:

About the questions you asked, I think it's best that I leave that to your imagination. : )

rukiaprincess :

Thanks, I'm glad you like it. It's my first attempt to write about orihime and ishida. Thanks for wishing me good luck on my exam. My exam hasn't started yet but it will in a week time.

ruukii :

Yes, I've read chapter 199. It's a nice surprise that Kubo Tite sensei actually explores that rare side of her, that shows that she's more than a mere air-head.