Chapter 4
Tatsuki came awake to the sound of voices. Her mind was still sleepy so it took her a moment to register that she wasn't on Renji's back anymore and instead lying on something soft. She was enveloped in his scent and started to drift away again.
"That doesn't mean she is dead, baka! Someone could have brought her here!"
Was that Ichigo? But why was he shouting?
"There was no one else around other than the two of us. Trust me. I've searched."
That was Renji's deep voice. She forced her eyes open and blinked. She was lying in a bed with a thick blanket draped over her. The room was a mess.
Everywhere were clothes strewn and in between were papers and books.
"Ichigo, Renji is right. The only way for her to be in Soul Society is to have died in the world of the living."
She knew that voice. Rukia?
She got up and made her way to the door. Opening it carefully, the first thing she saw was Renji sitting on a big couch. Rukia stood opposite him, her arms crossed.
She took a step out and saw a tall figure to her right standing with his back to her. A white Captain's haori over broad shoulders and a messy mop of orange hair. Ichigo. He turned around, looking at her with such a weeping puppy face.
What the hell?
She hated it when he tried to take responsibility for everything. Did he think he was God? She went towards him and punched him hard in the stomach, shouting at his doubled over form.
"Don't you dare look at me with those puppy eyes! It's not your fault that I'm dead so get a grip or I'll kick your ass again!"
And she would. She would not let him shoulder any guilt for something he had nothing to do with. He straightened up again and when she looked up, the only thing she saw was her best friend and the years they had had together.
Before she knew it she threw herself against him, wrapping her arms around his waist and letting her tears fall freely.
She was dead! She wouldn't be able to live on her life. There was so much she had still wanted to do. Now her life was over. Her world started to crumple again, but not as hard as last night. It was just seeing Ichigo standing here made it all the more real.
He held her for a few more minutes until she got a grip on herself again and pulled back from him.
"What are you two laughing about?" came Ichigo's irritated voice and she turned to see Renji and Rukia grinning at them.
They both tried for a straight face when she raised her brow but they failed miserably. With that the atmosphere lighted and they all laughed for a while. At some point Renji got off the couch and went to her side.
"Okay, let's all behave like the Captains and Lieutenant we are, shall we?"
The laughter ebbed and he turned to Rukia.
"Rukia, can you go over to Squad Three and ask Momo for some clothes for Tatsuki? They are almost the same height. Ichigo, can you..."
A knock sounded at the door.
"Captain Abarai! This is third Seat Kudo with an urgent message from Head-Captain Yamamoto!"
Letting out a long breath Renji turned to the door.
"Come in!"
The door opened to show a man in his mid-twenties, with shaggy blond hair and a shinigami uniform. He bowed his head to Renji.
"I'm sorry to disturb you, Captain, but the Head-Captain wants to see you in his office in fifteen minutes."
Renji growled low as he heard that.
"For Gods sake! I can't even take a fucking shower without the old man summoning me into his fucking office!"
Ranting on, he went into his bedroom. The man in the door looked a little green at what his Captain said, but Ichigo dismissed him.
"Thanks, Kudo. You can go now. Captain Abarai will see the Head-Captain as soon as possible."
The man bowed his head again and left.
"Thank you, Captain Kurosaki."
The door closed and she raised a brow at Ichigo.
"Captain Kurosaki?"
Rukia giggled behind him and earned a stern look for that.
"What's the problem with that? I am a Captain."
Another giggle.
"Yeah, but I think Captain Carrot-Top suits you better." Tatsuki grinned.
A tick started in his jaw and he took a step forward but was stopped by two small hands around his right wrist. He looked down to see Rukia holding him back.
His brow rose and with a devilish grin he took hold of her hands and lifted his arm until she dangled in the air and her face was level with his.
"And what are you giggling, Midget?"
She squirmed against his hold, trying to kick him.
"Ichigo, let go! I've told you a thousand times to stop that!"
It truly was a sight to be hold. Ichigo holding her up without any effort and Rukia kicking and screaming like a child.
"Oi! Get a room already, will ya?"
Renji shouted from his bedroom. Their heads turned in his direction and they both shouted in unison "Shut up!"
But Ichigo let go of her and she landed on the floor in a heap. She started to say something but Renji interrupted her.
"Rukia, get the damn clothes!"
He came back into the room, his hair dripping wet, wearing a clean kosode and his dirty haori over a new hakama.
"Ichigo, will you take her with you over to yours? I don't know how long it will take with the old man and I don't wanna leave her alone the whole time."
She looked over to Ichigo who just nodded.
"Of course. Common, Tatsuki. Let's go."
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He watched her walking out the door with Ichigo at her side and he had the urge to call her back but he couldn't. She belonged to Ichigo. She was one of his friends. And he had a meeting with the Head-Captain.
Sighing, he finished dressing and pulled his hair back in its usual ponytail before heading over to the first Division and the hated office. Since he had become a Captain five and a half years ago, the Head-Captain called him into his office on an almost daily base to nag about something.
Late papers, missions, late papers, something he had said, late papers, his inability to find a Lieutenant and just for good measure, late papers.
It was always the same. The old man would scold him and he would say that it won't happen again, until he stood in the exact same place the next day and it would start again. Most of the time he felt like a child in front of his teacher getting a lecture about how important homework was. But it was frustrating.
Nothing he did was ever good enough. If he was such a failure in the eyes of the old man then why had he made him a Captain? He had no idea and so he found himself in front of the huge double doors that let into the vast office of the Head-Captain.
The doors opened seemingly on their own accord and he walked straight up to the large desk.
"Captain Abarai, I have received your message about the events concerning the 74th District. An investigation team was sent there. Now, I want to know who this person is for which you have neglected your duties to investigate this case yourself."
The Head-Captain's voice boomed through the room and he was not happy with Renji. Again.
"Her name is Tatsuki Arisawa and she is one of Captain Kurosaki's friends from the world of the living. We assume she died there yesterday. I've found her near the village and she had no knowledge of how she got there, Head-Captain."
The old man opened his right eye half an inch. Shit, now it was getting bad. If the Head-Captain opened his eyes, he usual was pissed as hell.
"So you tell me you neglected your duty for an average Soul?"
Shit!
"No, Head-Captain. She is no ordinary Soul. She fought in the world of the living on our site, even …."
"So you say she is an extraordinary Soul, Captain."
She is extraordinary...in bed.
Before he had a chance to answer the old man went on.
"Lieutenant Sasakibe!"
The ever quiet Lieutenant of Squad One stepped out of a shadow behind Renji, bowing his head slightly.
"Lieutenant, bring me this girl. I will decide for myself how special she is."
Sasakibe nodded once and vanished in a burst of shunpo. Renji just stood there at a loss. What a mess!
Now he had endangered Tatsuki by his inability to just do something right for once. He hoped she really had enough spiritual power to convince the Head-Captain.
After a few more minutes of silence the doors opened again to reveal Sasakibe with Tatsuki by his side. His heart skipped a beat at her sight. She wore a shihakusho, her hair flowing around her face and she gave him a little smile.
"Step for, Tatsuki Arisawa." Yamamoto called, his voice a little softer as he addressed her.
She looked to Renji questioningly and he nodded. It took her a moment before she came to stand next to him because of her small steps.
"So, tell me why you came here, little one."
She bowed her head.
"I came here to see Captain Kurosaki, Head-Captain. Captain Abarai was so nice to escort me here all the way from Rukongai, Sir."
He was impressed. How the hell did she know how to correctly speak with the Head-Captain?
"Very well. May I ask you to let your spiritual energy out to show me the extend of it?"
Fuck, now it comes.
She lifted her head and looked at him confused.
"Spiritual energy? I am sorry, Sir, but I don't know what you mean."
Renji interjected.
"Head-Captain, may I try to show her?"
The old man nodded and he turned toward Tatsuki who looked a little lost.
"Please do what I tell you, okay?" he whispered.
She looked up to him.
"Okay, but you owe me one."
He smiled down at her.
"Sure. Now close your eyes, and breath deeply in and out."
He stepped behind her, putting his hands on her small shoulders, bending down to speak quietly in her ear.
"Imagine a balloon and fill it slowly with water. More and more until it's almost to the point of bursting. Now take a deep breath and let it burst."
For a moment nothing happened but then her reiatsu began to flow.
At first just a little.
A little more.
It stopped and she breathed in deeply.
An immense shock wave of spiritual energy erupted from her followed by another and another. He felt his knees buckle of the pressure but he kept standing. Her body shook violently and he pulled her against his chest to hold her up. Two more waves came before she collapsed in his arms. He tightened his hold on her with one arm while his other hand came up to slide her hair off her face before cupping her cheek.
"Tatsuki, Sweetheart! Wake up, baby! Talk to me!" he said quietly with panic in his voice.
What the hell had happened here?
He had just shown her how to let loose a controlled amount of power. Nothing more. It should just have been enough to get a feeling of what powers she possessed.
She opened her eyes slowly, looking up at him.
"R..Renji? What happened?"
He exhaled a long breath.
"You pushed out too much spiritual energy and collapsed."
Putting her down on her own feet he carefully let go of her.
"I am very pleased, Tatsuki Arisawa. Tomorrow you will enroll in the Shin'o Academy."
She turned to the Head-Captain before speaking in a firm voice.
"With the utmost respect, Head-Captain, but I don't intend to go to a academy. I have trained since the age of three in different martial arts. I was an instructor myself until I apparently died yesterday. I appreciate your generous offer, but I must decline, Sir."
Renji was absolutely speechless. She had told the Head-Captain no. Into his face. Yamamoto opened his second eye and looked at Tatsuki as if she was just a small insect.
Fuck!
Silence filled the room for a minute.
"I see. Very well. Then you will get instructed by a personal trainer outside the Academy in Kido, Hoho and Zanjutsu. Lieutenant Kuchiki and Lieutenant Hinamori will instruct you on Kido. Captain Abarai will be your instructor for the other. You are therefore given into the responsibility of Captain Abarai. Dismissed."
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What. The. Fuck?
She wanted to tell the old geezer to stuff this whole instructor-shit somewhere where the sun never shines, but Renji pushed her towards the door.
"Renji, stop it! I.."
He silenced her by putting his hand over her mouth and almost carried her out. The doors closed behind them and he let go of her.
"What was that? How dare you silence me, you stupid excuse for a parrakeet? Never do that again, you hear me?"
And without giving him the chance to say something she turned and stalked off. She was furious.
How dare the old geezer decide her life over her head?
She wasn't really angry at Renji, okay, a little bit, but it was just that it felt as if her life wasn't hers anymore.
Yesterday everything was fine. She had a job she loved. A beautiful apartment. Good friends.
And today she was apparently dead, lived in a strange world and now had to get trained to become a Shinigami.
"Tatsuki, wait! Let me explain!"
She turned with a glare. They were already outside the building on some street.
"What? You wanna explain to me why I was brought in front of that old geezer? Or why all of a sudden I have to become a Shinigami? Or why you dragged me out of there before I had a chance to tell him to go fuck himself? Common, I'm listening. Explain it to me."
She was screaming. She had enough. All she wanted was her old life back. A bulk of Shinigami had filled the street around them, looking at them and listening to what they said. She didn't care.
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this. But ….."
"You are sorry? Have you any idea what all this means? You're going to be my fucking instructor!"
"Calm down. You didn't wanna go to the Academy like everybody else."
She hissed before lunging at him. But she never reached him.
Strong arms were wrapped around her middle, holding her back. She recognized them at once.
"Let go of me, Ichigo! I'm going to kill that stupid asshole!"
She struggled to get free with no avail.
"Tatsuki, stop it! Tell me what happened and if it's really that bad I'll gladly help you kill him okay?"
She calmed a little and Ichigo let go of her.
"Oi, that's not really helpful, Carrot-Top!"
She took a step forward and punched Renji straight in the face.
"Fuck!"
Turning she marched off again, hearing Ichigo voice.
"Man, you're in real deep shit!"
A small hand clasped hers and she saw Rukia walking next to her, a warm smile on her face.
"I know Renji can be an idiot at times, just like Ichigo. But trust me, he carries his heart in the right place."
She exhaled slowly.
"I know. It's just the whole situation that's making me so furious."
Rukia squeezed her hand.
"Common. Let's get back and eat something and then we'll sort this out."
They walked for about fifteen minutes in silence, with Ichigo and Renji trailing behind them when they reached the Squad Five barracks. Rukia led her back to Ichigo's private quarters where she sat down on a small couch. The others followed her inside but Ichigo stopped at the door.
"Oi, Moa! Can you go over to that little shop and get us something to eat?"
She saw a young woman stop in front of him.
"Of course, Captain. The usual?"
Ichigo nodded.
"Yeah, but make it four times instead of two."
She inclined her head and hurried away.
"Ichigo, someday you'll have to learn the names of your squadmembers. That was Mai, not Moa!"
Rukia chided but he just shrugged it off.
"They know who I mean when I call them."
She threw her arms in the air.
"I swear, you're almost as bad as Yachiru!"
"Don't compare me with that pink little devil, Midget!"
Renji burst out laughing at Ichigo's horror filled expression.
"Who is this Yachiru-Devil?" she asked curious of who might be able to give Ichigo a run for his money.
"She's a vicious, pink haired little girl that will one day be the death of me."
Ichigo explained which was followed by more laughter.
"She's not vicious and it's Captain Zaraki that will be your death." Rukia corrected.
"Small details." was all he said before going into the small kitchen, preparing some tea.
"Okay, Tatsuki. Now tell me why you wanted to kill that Pineapple over there?"
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Renji cringed inwardly at Ichigo's reminder.
"That's Captain Pineapple for you, Carrot-Top."
"Captain Carrot-Top, dead man."
He looked over at Tatsuki who was smiling at their banter and started to explain to Rukia and Ichigo what had happened at the Head-Captain's office.
Instead of listening he was captivated by her. The movement of her lips, the gestures she made with her hands while explaining something, her dark eyes that wandered between the three of them.
"So, I'm basically stranded with Captain Pineapple and Lieutenant Midget as my instructors."
Ichigo grinned.
"Lieutenant Midget, I like that. I knew there was a reason why I always liked you. But this whole situation is just something that only Renji and you could get in. Sorry, Tatsuki, but you have to kill him yourself."
He got serious.
"So these huge reiatsu waves just now were yours?"
She shrugged.
"I think so. Renji?"
She looked at him questioningly.
"Yeah, that was her. I've got no real idea what happened. She should have just emitted a little bit for the old man to judge but then it exploded out of her. We'll definitely have to work on her reiatsu control."
Rukia and Ichigo nodded in unison. A knock sounded.
"Captain Kurosaki! I'm back with your dinner."
Ichigo got up and went for the door.
"Thanks Miro."
He exchanged a short look with Tatsuki, both grinning before they called.
"It's Mai, Captain Carrot-Top!"
"If you two don't stop I'll give this tasty foot someone else!"
They ate in a relaxed mood. Some jokes were made but mostly they talked about nothing special. When they were finished Rukia and Ichigo excused themselves since they had work to do.
"We'll see you two later."
Ichigo said when they parted ways. Renji looked down at her by his side.
"Shall we?"
She nodded and they made their way towards his Division.
"Renji?"
She walked next to him.
"What is it?"
Something was bothering her. He could hear it her voice.
"Is there a chance to find out what happened to me? I mean in the real world."
He thought about that for a moment.
"Sure. But are you really sure you want to know?"
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Did she wanted to know? What if she had died in some horrific way? But it didn't matter. She was restless inside without the knowledge of what had happened with her.
"Yeah. I have to know."
She didn't look at him, her eyes fixed on the street.
"I'll send one of my officers over there to find out first thing in the morning." he said in his steady voice.
They arrived at his Squad and he maneuvered them through the haze of corridors and yards until they stopped in front of a double door with a pineapple carved in the right one. Renji saw it too, and growled under his breath.
"One day I'm going to kill that little monster!"
He pushed the door aside and strode inside a cozy looking office. She followed him.
"Who?"
She was curious again.
"The pink devil!"
She burst out laughing when he uttered the same words as Ichigo. He glared back at her.
"Once you end on the receiving end of one of her jokes we'll see who is laughing then. I have some paperwork to do. Feel at home here."
With that he went over to a desk that was packed with high stacks of papers, took off his haori and sat down. She stood in the middle of the room, looking around. The room emitted a warm atmosphere.
His desk stood opposite the entrance and a second desk was positioned to the left side of the room. The walls were made of a dark wood as well as the floor. The right side was completely made of floor-to-ceiling windows which let in enough light to bath the room in a soft glow. A small couch was standing in front of them with a little table.
A huge sideboard was positioned against the wall next to the door, sporting two empty stands for a katana. She went over to the windows which looked out into a garden with a gigantic sakura tree in the middle.
It was a simple garden, with just deep green grass and the huge tree. Surrounded by seven feet high hedges it was like a little private refugee. With her inner eye she could see Renji lying there in the shadows under the tree, relaxing after work. A small smile tucked at her lips at the picture. She heard the shuffling of papers and the quiet scratching of his brush while he was writing.
Sliding one of the doors that led into the garden open, she stepped outside. It was beautiful here. The air smelled of the cherry blossoms and fresh grass and it was absolutely quiet. She pulled off her sandals and walked on her bare feed over to the tree and sat down under it. A light breeze let a few blossoms rain down around her and she closed her eyes, lying back against the trunk.
She didn't think. Just let the smells and sounds seep into her.
Peace. She felt at peace for the first time in years.
Yeah, even when she was still alive she was happy, but restless inside. It was as if she was missing something but had no idea what it was.
She had once told Orihime about it and she thought that Tatsuki just missed Ichigo since he had left them to live here in Soul Society. But that wasn't it. Sure she missed him but it was something other that made her restless. She knew it.
And now, here at this very moment she felt it. Calm peace. Her mind drifted when she smelled some new scent.
Was that...coffee?
"Want some?" came a very deep voice, almost a whisper.
She opened her eyes slowly to see Renji leaning against the door frame, two mugs in his hands, watching her. He was a sight to behold.
His broad shoulders, muscled arms with the big hands. The ripped torso under the black material, with his strong legs crossed at the ankles. The tattoos that showed at his wrists and neck and on his forehead.
His chocolate eyes staring at her with a glimmer of the sun in them and a small smile on his lips and his red hair glowing brightly. Breaking herself out of her thoughts she answered him.
"I didn't know you could get coffee here in Soul Society. Ichigo and Rukia never told."
He came over to her, handing her one of the mugs. His free hand came up to scratch his neck as if he was somewhat embarrassed.
"Well, normally there isn't. But on one of our last missions in the world of the living Captain Hitsugaya and I discovered it and have developed some kind of addiction for it. Urahara knew that and gave us two machines as Christmas presents."
She took a sip and a moan escaped her at the taste of it. It was really good. She had discovered coffee as her drink of choice years ago when she had just finished school and started to work at the dojo full time as an instructor.
Between work, her own training, family and friends there was not much time for sleep and soon she found out that it not only tasted good but also had the benefit of keeping you awake and running.
They both sat there in silence, sipping from their mugs. When they were finished, Renji got up and held his hand out to her. She took it, feeling the rough skin and calluses in his and let him pull her up.
"I'm done with my work for today. Let's go grab something to eat and then do some shopping. You'll need some clothes."
She stopped dead and went ramrod stiff. "Shopping?" a shudder went down her spine at the thought.
She hated shopping!