Chapter 1
I had hope for victory, but now against these odds, I began to have doubts. I assured the girl that she was safe, but I didn't specify for how long. Voices in my head called out to me, but it wasn't because I was crazy. It was my zanpakutō, Jikan. You see, this is where my visions came from. I never told anyone about him and its abilities, because it would have made me an outcast.
Think about it: if I had mastered Jikan, I would've seen Aizen's betrayal or the invasion of the Bounts before the events even happened. In truth, I've only discovered my zanpakutō's name and its ability just recently; before that, I always thought I was psychic or something. I still haven't mastered Jikan yet.
"What are you doing Saidō! Having inner monologues again! Get away from that barrier!"
"Why Jikan? Do you see something?"
"There is a battle now taking place between the Captains of Soul Society and Aizen and his Espada. Its painfully obvious that you might die just by standing here."
Not taking chances, I ran away from the barrier, carrying the girl with me. It is not that I was running away from the battle, I was just coming up with a plan while jogging to get exercise.
I'm very glad that the girl was a whole, otherwise, if anyone had seen me, they might think I'm a pedophile. Regardless. I did what was right, while my zanpakutō had a different agenda.
I ran at least fifty miles away and found myself, in the middle of a graveyard in the woods. I suddenly realized that I still carried the girl with me who apparently had been screaming the whole time, ironic use of the word. I let her go and hesitated whether or not to send her into Soul Society. Again I had doubts, at this point if Soul Society gets invaded, then her best chance of survival would be in the world of the living.
"I'm sorry, how long were you hangi-"
She kicked me really hard in the shins and I fell to the ground in pain.
"Why did you take me away? I have to save my family, they live there."
"Well I uhh, how was I supposed to know? Wait! If I hadn't saved you, you would have been a hollow about now!"
"What's a hollow?"
"It's a- never mind, the point is you're safe and that's all I can do about-"
"If I was safe, then why did you take me away from my family?"
"It's cause- gosh you're a pain in the ass, I just rescued you and now you're interrogating me like I'm some kind of a-"
There I saw it, she reminded me of someone I lost to a hollow; I chucked to myself and relaxed.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"What? Why? Are you some kind of pedophile?"
"Believe me, if I was a child molester, I wouldn't risk my neck to save a girl from being eaten by hollows just only to find out a name."
She chuckled and smiled. "You make a point there, I'm Aiko."
"And I'm Saidō, pleasure to meet you."
"Wait! You're not taking me back?"
"Oh please! Where you are is where most of my comrades want to be, you'll be safe."
"In the middle of a graveyard?"
Yes, I admit, it does seem very ironic.
"I have to go now, my friends are waiting for me."
I took off towards the battle, leaving the girl behind. I could almost hear her, saying either goodbye or some curse. I prefer to think of it as a goodbye, for it could be my last.