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1: Sweeper

A cool afternoon breeze washed over the small town of Karakura. The sunset cast a bloody red haze over the streets and the town began to close down for the day. There was barely any noise, bar the terrified screams coming from a narrow alley.

A lone man walked the streets. Dressed in a white suit and carrying a silver briefcase, he looked like a businessman. That was true. He was in a business...Of sorts. Of course, rather than filing shipping reports he filed wanted notices and arrest warrants and rather than sit behind a desk, he prowled the streets in search of wanted criminals. This man was a sweeper.

Sweepers, government approved vigilantes and bounty hunters. With the right licence, a sweeper is free to hunt down criminals and bring them in for a cash reward.

In the history of sweepers there were many legends but none more so than Sven Volfied. Word had spread that he had caught Rukia Kuchiki, the girl with the largest bounty ever placed. Every time fellow sweepers saw him pass by they would stare in silent awe, wondering how just a regular guy could catch the most dangerous criminal to ever prowl the streets.

Sven puffed away at a cigarette. The smoke trails wafted up into the sky to disappear into nothingness...Much like a special young girl he knew...

Before he could get caught up in his sorrow another piercing scream drifted out from the alleyway just across the road. Without even looking, Sven crossed the road and reached into his coat, drawing his pistol.

"Help me!" A young woman cried. She was wearing a skimpy waitress outfit. A brutish man stood behind her, one hand around her throat, the other groping her.

Sven spat on the ground and glared distastefully at the man. "How pitiful. You're so ugly that you have to force people to love you."

The thug's face twitched at the taunt and he gritted his teeth and snarled. "Shut up! Come any closer and I'll break her neck!"

Sven rolled his eyes. "I don't need to get closer. I have a gun." He waved the weapon around arrogantly.

"Give me the gun!" The thug roared. "Throw it to me and put the suitcase down too!"

Sven hurled the gun at him and raised one hand in the air. "Do I have to drop the case? I don't like it getting dirty."

"Drop it!" The thug was choking the woman to the point that her cheeks were going blue and her body was going limp.

Sven sighed. "Very well. You asked for it." He dropped the suitcase. When it hit the ground a small compartment opened and a net shot out, enveloping the thug and his victim. They both cried out as they were knocked to the ground.

Sven helped the woman out of the tangled mess and then pistol whipped the thug. The woman thanked him and then ran off. Sven dragged the thug to the police station where he was taken by two officers.

"You found him fast!" A secretary gasped. "We only put up the notice yesterday!"

Sven smiled. "Small fry like him are nothing special. I'm merely training for the real thing."

The secretary cocked her head. "Excuse me?"

"Pretty soon I'm going after the toughest guy you've ever seen. It's gonna be rough so I'm honing my skills with these weakling until the time is right." Sven averted his gaze. "I just hope I won't be too late by then..."

The secretary looked around nervously and coughed. "Ahem. Here is your reward. Thanks again."

Sven took the money and headed back home. He walked alone through the quite streets, listening to the soft howls of the wind. On his way he passed a small apartment block. A petite brunette girl was checking the mailbox when Sven stopped beside her.

"Hi Orihime."

The girl jumped, startled by the sudden visitor but when she recognised him her face lit up. "Sven! How are you?"

"Okay, I guess. I've been thinking a lot about Eve lately..."

Orihime frowned. "I'm so sorry. Maybe if I was there I could have..." She trailed off.

"No, there was nothing anyone could do. The die has been cast...Now it's our turn."

Orihime nodded and began sifting through the mail. Out of the corner of her eye she could see the distress in her friend's eyes. "I hope things turn out okay. Eve and Rukia are tougher than they look. They should be able to hold their own until Soul Society gets moving."

Sven nodded. "Yeah...Well, it was nice talking to you."

"Bye Sven!" Orihime waved and flashed a beaming smile, but she dropped the facade when he was out of sight.

It was dark when Sven returned home. He had taken a longer detour just to clear his head. It hadn't worked as well as he hoped but it was good to think things over. He paused out the front of the Kurosaki clinic and grinned.

"At least I've got good neighbours." Sven whispered to himself.

Sephiria had paid for the house next door to the clinic. It had been for sale for months but no-one had taken it. Sven then used part of his reward earnings to furnish the small house. It had taken some time but over the span of two months he had renovated the little block and made it his home. His small compact car sat in the driveway, battered but intact.

The engine had problems that Sven was in no hurry to fix. The town was small so he had relied on walking everywhere. He even continued to do stakeouts, but rather than in his car, he would wait in a cafe or store. It was more effort, but there was no easy street where he would soon be going.

Over the months he had been brought up to speed on the whole situation. All the missing pieces that Rukia never got to explain were filled in and now he was even more prepared for the winter war.

Sven approached the front door and prepared to knock but it was wrenched open by a well-endowed woman with light purple hair. She hugged Sven and led him inside, chirping happily. Sven desperately wanted to share her enthusiasm but he was in no mood for joy.

"Come on Sven! You have to smile more! Eve wouldn't want you to be sad, would she?"

"You're talking as if she's dead!" Sven snapped.

"Maybe, but if you want to rescue her you can't be all mopey. Anyway, you got a letter today."

"A letter? Wow, how amazing..." Sven groaned sarcastically.

Rinslett Walker slapped her roommate and scowled. "Just read the damn thing!"

Sven tore the envelope open and took out the small piece of paper which had the word Chronos written in large gold characters on the letterhead.

"Dear Sven, I hope you are well. I am writing to tell you that the mobilization is going well. Our combined forces shall soon be ready. We should be ready in another two months. Please be patient and we shall rescue Eve and Rukia together."

"That's great!" Rinslett cheered.

Sven cursed and scrunched the letter up, hurling it at the wall. "This is not great! Two more months is to long! Who knows what they are doing to Eve right now? I almost lost her once and I won't let her die! I have to protect her, but I'm stuck here waiting for Chronos to get off their lazy asses! Dammit!" Sven clenched a fist and was about to lash out but he caught himself just in time.

Rinslett backed away. "S-Sven...Please calm down?"

The veteran sweeper bowed his head and headed into the kitchen where he poured a glass of scotch. He downed it far too quickly and then had a refill. He grunted as the strong liquor did its work. "This is killing me...I have to do something quick before I end up as a corpse."

"But Sven-" Rinslett was silenced when the gun was drawn. She stared at the shining weapon with hypnotic fear. "You can't..."

Sven rose to his feet. "I have to. I can't just wait around any longer! I have to go...Goodbye Rinslett."

"No! You'll die if you go alone!"

"Then I'll die trying. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm sick and tired of just sitting here doing nothing while Eve is suffering. This may be the last goodbye Rins."

"This is crazy! I wouldn't be able to live with myself if you died!"

"Why? It's not your fault. I'm following my own destiny." Sven said proudly.

"But what about those you leave behind? What if you fail? Eve will be without her best friend! I'll be without my best friend! Please, just think about this?"

"I've thought long enough. See you later..." Sven walked to the door but Rinslett snatched his sleeve and tried to drag him back.

"Wait! Don't go!"

Sven glared at her. The fierce determination in his eyes made her shudder. His mind had been made up. He had found his resolve. There was no way she could stop him. She relaxed her grip and he opened the door.

"Sven..."

He stepped out into the cold and looked around. For a moment he was lost in thought but then he suddenly grabbed Rinslett by the waist and dragged her to his side. He kissed her briefly and then let her go.

"Isshin is one lucky bastard." He said jokingly. Rins smiled weakly as she watched her friend walk off into the darkness, suitcase in one hand, a loaded pistol in the other.

The walk was depressing. Sven was contemplating what Rinslett had said. What of those left behind indeed? It was a tough decision but there were two paths to take. One lead to Hueco Mundo, the other led back home. Both paths would result in Eve's suffering, but there was a slim chance of saving her if he moved now.

He wasn't even sure where he was heading; he just had to keep moving. He was tired but he wouldn't rest. He would search to the ends of the earth until he found...

"Eve?" Sven stared at the blonde girl sitting in the gutter, her head between her knees. He slowly approached her, looking around anxiously, wary of an enemy surprise. This could all be a set-up. Maybe they were just trying to lure him out but-

"Sven...It hurts..." Eve's voice was croaky and it sounded courser than sandpaper.

Sven ran to her side, ignoring his innermost voice screaming at him to stop. He could have used the glaspar eye to see into the future and find out if it was a trap, but he lost all sense of rationality the instant he laid eyes on the wounded girl. He stooped over her and noticed the red puddles in the gutter. He extended a hand to help her when she turned suddenly.

Eve's eyes were rolled up in the back of her head and her skin was almost grey. Sven touched her cheek and reeled from the icy skin.

"What the...She spoke to me! She can't be...She just can't..."

Eve began to laugh and Sven's eyes shot open. Her eyes were glowing and a sinister smile was affixed to her usually gentle expression.

"Eve? What's going on?"

Eve's lips moved, but the voice wasn't hers. It was Aizen's! "You have failed!"

"Wha- urk!" Sven doubled over and groaned. His eyes were pinched shut and he gritted his teeth. When he opened his eyes again Eve was gone, so was the blood puddle. Now, in her place a katana was embedded in his chest. "Eve...Wha-What happened?" Sven brought up a mouthful of blood and spat in the gutter. He fell forward and placed a hand out to keep him up, the other grasped his stomach.

"A trap...Damn!" Sven got on all fours but quickly put one hand on his chest again. He crawled like that, trying to return home. He realised now the gravity of his mistake. He had strayed out alone in an unfit state of mind and fell for the trick.

Did I imagine Eve? Was my mind so tortured by grief that I thought her up? But...I felt her cheek. I cradled her in my arms...She had to have been there!

While he struggled to comprehend the events that just unfolded he crawled back. It started to rain, the freezing liquid pattering softly on his back at first, but soon becoming a strong downpour. The drops felt like liquefied bullets, hailing down on him. He endured the punishment and continued on.

Sven opened his suitcase and took out a mobile phone. He dialled his home number. It rang twice before Rins answered.

"Hello?"

"It's me, Sven."

"Sven? Where are you?"

"I don't know. But...I'm coming back home...I-I..."

"Sven? What's wrong? Hello? Are you alright? Sven?"

"..."

"Sven? Are you still there? Sven?"

A devious trap. Is this the first casualty in the Winter war? Read the next chapter to find out.

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