Would you love me if you knew what I was?
Chapter Fourteen: Tales and falling dominos
Alright chapter fourteen…I'm starting to wonder when I'm taking them to Seireitei, XD. I really dunno. I'm pretty sure in the twenty chapters or so…I dunno. It depends on my idea flow and school. Well, that and reviews. Hehe
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach. If I did, Yumi and Archer would be in there and there would be at least one kiss in the series. Ack.
Listening to: What about now (Chris Daughtry. Man I LOVE that song)
This is more like a mini-chapter. Sorry for it being sooo short. Blame school bleh. But there's a surprise for you since there hasn't been anything for a while. Can you guess what it is? Starts with an F…
Reviews:
(OMG I'm so sorry I haven't updated this. I'm horrible…)
Kouyan
Akuhime0703
HaruhiKurokami
Sarahlilly95
Thanks for all the reviews. I feel loved XD. There are also some questions on Archer. I'd tell ya, but that's no fun, lol. Yeah, I'm evil. I'll leave that up to you to decide. But if you get an answer, don't expect it to be right. Things aren't always as simple as they look. And Archer is pretty much the epitome of that…man I've always wanted to use that word—epitome…
XD I'm such a geek
"Ah yes. The War of the Demons' Fall," Byakuya began," I believe It was thousands of years ago...
"Shinigami weren't as efficient as today. Therefore, Hollows continued to multiply at an exceedingly rapid rate. They were almost powerless at the many high class leveled hollows at such breeding so they came up with a conclusion."
"Yes, they tried a different power that made up the beginning of Kido." answered Hitsugaya.
Byakuya shook his head at the white topped captain and corrected him," No, it wasn't the Shinigami that began Kido magic. It was the demon's that they themselves had created that made the spells. That was where the name originated from."
He frowned," So what happened to them after the war?"
"They were disposed of." He answered simply," Their power was a danger to the future of the Soul Society, so they massacred all of them. The one's that were left behind in the labs were either experimented on further or banished."
"To where, though?"
"Shobogenzo…"
"Hey…Archer, wake up!" yelled Yumi. She shook the sleeping cat with concern.
When he awoke, he looked pale and scared for a moment before closing his eyes again as if to relax with deep breaths.
"Hm? What's wrong, Archer?"
He lifted his head again and blinked," O-Oh. Sorry, I didn't know I was saying stuff."
Yumi frowned and scooted over next to him. Then, she took her hand and checked his forehead," This isn't like you to be thinking aloud, let alone in your sleep."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah, you don't have the mental capacity to do it," Yumi laughed when she gained a scowl from her 'teacher'. "Anyway, what's Shobogenzo? I haven't heard of it before."
Archer tensed for a moment when she had spoken the name so easily on her lips. He shook his head slowly and looked away," It's…nowhere I guess."
"If it gets you this down, then it had to be something."
Silence
"Alright, get over here," Archer pulled Yumi into his lap and lightly tapped her head with the back of his knuckle," but you better not laugh or anything while I'm explaining this."
Yumi tensed at the closeness and was already feeling claustrophobic and flustered. She wasn't really used to being that close to a guy before, and one like Archer was no exception. After calming, she nodded.
"I promise."
Archer sighed and took a breath in," It all began a few thousand years ago…"
"The Shinigami were beginning to become overwhelmed with the rapid hollow activity as of late. As such, the moon was beginning to change into an eerie yellow with a red ring of light around it. They figured that it was the reason why their numbers were multiplying so quickly.
"With people disappearing and the frontlines deteriorating, the scientists of Seireitei began experimenting with spirits from hell and so forth. Instead of people, they used the souls of vengeful animals and fused them with humans.
"It was a sad and terrible process, but as wrong as it were, some scientists didn't care for this and continued using the same subjects over and over until the soul died or even disintegrated into spirit particles. Those were for the lucky ones who hadn't been completely consumed and had their soul torn--no, ripped in two."
"That's awful!" she exclaimed with a clear frown on her face," Even if it was for war, that just isn't fair!"
"That's how it was a thousand of years ago." He answered plainly," Everyone wanted power, no matter what the price."
"Oh…"
"May I continue now?" asked Archer, a little impatient now.
"Alright."
"As I was saying…" he cleared his throat and paused before shaking his head," Well…"
"'Well'…?"
"…That's it."
"What!? What about the war? The people! Shobogenzo!"
"I…" Archer furrowed his brows," That's all I know. The rest of the records were lost. Probably burned or hidden away from it ever happening again. My guess that it was hidden the last one of them."
"Who was it?"
"His name was…" he looked a bit hesitant at answering her question. But he told her anyway despite his head thinking otherwise," Daichi. Kitazawa Daichi…"
"Yo, Archer!" called a voice as the young boy turned around to see another. He had dark blue hair that resembled a midnight azure and eyes that shone like the silver moon. Despite looking like an adult in his years, his childish expression gave him away to the brown haired cat. "What's up?
"Hey, Daichi. Nothing much has been going on," he shrugged his shoulders in a bored fashion," How's the younger Kitazawa?"
He chuckled and rolled his eyes," Bratty as ever," Mischief took over his nature now," What, you got a crush on her or something, Arch?"
A faint blush tinted the younger's cheeks and he stuttered," N-No! Jeez that's gross! I'm only nine for cripes sake!"
"Yeah, I'm seventeen and you don't' see me fairing any better!" Daichi joked before ruffling Archer's brown spiky locks," So, how's your aim now?"
Archer grinned widely in pride and took his slingshot out. As a target, he took aim at a nearby koi pond. His golden eyes narrowed and concentrated on one single fish with a black spot on its fin along with white freckles over its orange scales. With a snap, Archer let go just as the fish jumped. The 'bullet' (Currently in the form of a small rock), hit its intended target, which had angrily splashed some water in his direction.
Daichi laughed when Archer twitched at his wet self. He pet his head once more," Well, at least you didn't kill it with your glaring."
"Oh shut up, Dai!" he yelled with a pout. Daichi chuckled some more and stood up straight.
"Archer," he had the younger's full attention now," I want you to do something for me."
"Eh? Alright but you owe me!"
"So I will," he replied with a shrug. He knelt down to meet Archer for level eye contact," When the time comes, I want you to remember this. If you find something important to you, protect it to the end. If it's someone you want to protect, don't let them die. When there's someone you love, don't let them go." He took Archer's hands in his and left something in his hands before standing back up and began to walk away. Archer frowned and looked in his hand to see a silver key. Golden eyes widened before he started running up to Daichi with a puzzled look on his face.
"Dai Nii-San!" he called with confusion. He only used that term when he was truly worried or scared," Why are you giving me this? This is the key to your—"
Daichi hushed him with a silent finger to his lips. One look was all it took for Archer to understand. With a nod, he smiled softly, turned, and began to walk away once more. He made a small wave to him.
"Take care of her for me, got it?"
His eyebrows knit together as he saw the retreating back of the person he respected the most in the whole world. As young as he was, he wasn't stupid. Like a set of dominos, everything was falling together piece by piece. That look in his silver orbs told it all…
He was going to war
"Be careful, Dai…"
Yumi's eyes shot open as she sat up in a futon from within Urahara's store. With a shaky deep breath, she tried to calm her breathing.
'That woman again…' she thought with a frown,' I've seen her before.' Beside her, Archer looked like he was struggling with something in his sleep while muttering incoherent words.
"Arch… Archer!" Yumi shook him slightly in worry but he did not wake this time. She pulled him so that he was on his back and rested him on her lap carefully. His brow was in sheets of sweat and his face contorted with what seemed to be pain. Breathing also seemed hard for the brunette and it was getting worse.
She took his hand in hers and already felt his fingers close around her palm with a grimace. It was strange, the difference in the feeling of his hands from hers. His were slightly callused from training and using his gun over the years. Hers on the other hand were soft and unstained…
Or so she wished
When she then heard an inaudible whimper from the older male, Yumi frowned once more and began massaging his scalp slowly," Shh, it's alright…I'm here." A soft and innocent kiss was placed upon his brow in motherly affection; just like that woman did to herself. For some odd reason, something compelled her to do that onto Archer. Even worse, she even felt like she was enjoying his company despite it was she who was offering to the unknowing older male on her knees.
Archers grip on her loosened somewhat. Once it was free, she slowly shifted so that her back was against the wall and he was still resting comfortably on her lap. Yumi then pulled a nearby blanket (It was way too dark to tell if it was still hers or his, not that she cared) and placed it over him. She smiled when his breathing began to even out. Yumi even began to feel her own eyes falling steadily, welcoming blissful sleep.
Omake Theatre
Mana: -gasp- what's this I fear? Another pairing!?
Yumi/Hitsu: Oo!?
Ichigo: Weren't you dead?
Mana: Yeah, but a thing called school reluctantly revived me…
Ichigo: Oh…
Yumi: So…why am I paired up with the cat?
Hitsu: …
Mana: Hey, when did I earn your glare?
Hitsu: I'm always glaring so don't even start
Yumi: Where is archer, anyway?
Mana: Dunno. But I really need to kill him—
Ichigo: Found him!
Mana: Whoo!
Ichigo: But he's still sleeping…
Mana: TT
Archer: ZZZzzz
Akatsu: -sigh- idiot…
The force compels you to press the button on the left for reviews…
(lol, that's 'cuz I just watched Star Wars at school)
