Hello again. I have returned for another chapter in this new story of mine! I had intended to have so much more in this chapter, but after last chapter being so jam-packed with information I figured for this one less was better.
Oh, and just before you read this, everything that happens in this chapter did NOT happen in the movie. This all from my own head!
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with the Anime/Manga. They belong to Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump Magazine. Please support the official release.
-Trying To Remember-
There was no sense to the world when Ichigo came to. He didn't know where he was, or how long he had been there, or even if he was alive. His head throbbed painfully, the only real thing he could decipher in the odd assortment of feelings swelling up inside of his aching body.
He was laying down, he realized. Ichigo tried to determine what he was laying on, and found it to be soft and warm. Finally, after a couple of minutes of trying to make sense of things with just his mind, he cracked open an eye and stared with his bleary vision at what looked like a ceiling.
Ichigo was laying in his bed. He looked around, seeing that he was indeed in his own room. He frowned. How had he gotten here? He tried to remember what had happened, and came up blank. The last thing he remembers is going to Rukia's party...
Had he gotten wasted and blacked out? He couldn't have. He was so responsible when it came to alcohol that there was no way on earth he would have done such a thing. Was he drugged? Another impossibility, because no one had touched his drink once it was open other than himself and he hadn't put it down even for a second until after it was done...but when had he finished it?
It was slowly coming back to him. He had put his drink on Rukia's front step, but why? There had been something that had caught his attention...and Rukia was there...and so was Renji...
Ichigo gave a groan as his head continued to throb. He couldn't think straight. His memory was so fuzzy...why was that? What had happened last night?
Ichigo forced with all of his might his body to sit up. He grunted as he rested against the wall behind his bed, just breathing as he tried to clear the fog around his mind. He sucked in a breath though his nose, and then frowned deeply.
What was that strange smell? It was...coppery and stale. He looked around his room, trying to find the source of the scent. There was nothing amiss in his room, so he looked down at his bed and was surprised to see he had slept with all of his clothes and shoes on on top of the covers.
But what was most interesting was his Vibes shirt. There were brown splotches running from his collar to his stomach. He attentively touched one of the splotches, finding it long since dried. He scraped some of it off his shirt and examined it in front of his face, watching it crumple and fall. His eyes widened as he realized what it was.
Blood. It was dried blood. Slight panic rose into his chest as he examined himself. Had he been injured? His knuckles were perfectly fine, so he couldn't have been in a fight otherwise they'd be red and the skin would be slightly chipped. He felt his face, and found his nose was rather sensitive. He frowned, taking in a large sniff. It wasn't broken, but there was definitely caked blood inside his nostrils.
What the fuck happened last night?
Ichigo didn't know how he found the strength to swing his legs over the bed and stand, but he did it. He wobbled slightly, his equilibrium out of wack. He stood there for a moment, trying to make sense of what was happening to him and hoping that standing would help get the blood flowing properly, when suddenly his cell phone began to ring loudly in his pocket. It made him flinch. He fumbled around with his pants, trying to remember which pocket his phone was in, and pulled it out and answered without checking to see who it was.
"Hello?" His voice came out in a rasp, his throat raw and his mouth dry. He coughed, clearing his throat and wetting his lips.
"Ichigo?" Rukia's familiar voice came from the other end of the line. "Ichigo are you okay?"
Ichigo frowned, his brain too slow to keep up with her words. "Uh...yeah, just...out of it I guess." He said groggily, rubbing his face. There was some caked blood around his nostrils, and he wiped them clean with his fingers as he listened to her breathing on the other end.
"Do you remember what happened last night at all?" She asked, and Ichigo raised a brow at the question.
"No...do you?"
"No," Rukia said, then was quiet for a moment. Ichigo was about to say something, but she beat him to it, "Renji called me a few minutes ago saying he had blood on his shirt and didn't remember anything. I woke up the same way. How about you?"
Ichigo was stunned. They had woken up just like him? All three of them were in the same predicament: bloody, numb, confused, and apparently had a mild case of amnesia. What could have caused this? Were they all drugged or something? Was there a copious amount of young adults all over Karakura waking up in the same fashion?
"Yeah...me too." He answered finally. "My head hurts...everything feels like a dream right now..."
"Clean up and come over so we can all talk," She said. "Renji is already on his way. We'll wait for you." And with that she hung up, leaving Ichigo blinking in confusion.
The last thing he wanted to do was clean up and go anywhere with this headache. But Rukia had hung up before he could argue; plus he might be able to get some answers if he put his head together with her's and Renji's.
So he rinsed in the shower and took a few pills to help with the headache before dressing in a light gray hoodie and jeans. He made his way into the kitchen to find everyone was still asleep. It was Saturday, so everyone slept a little later than usual. He was thankful, because he didn't want to have to explain anything to them as to what had happened last night. Once he had the answer, he could answer them.
He drank a two glasses of water before heading out. He was hungry too, but he knew that he was lagging and Rukia would throw a fit if he too much longer.
His keys had been in his pocket when he woke up, as was his phone and his wallet-still full of money so nobody had robbed him thankfully- but when he walked outside he found his car was not parked in the driveway.
Once again panic ran through him. Had his Honda been stolen? The thought made him fill with rage at the injustice of it. He had just gotten that car as a gift from his father to congratulate him on getting his license. He had loved the gift, and had babied the hell out of it since he laid eyes on it. And now it was gone?
Ichigo wanted to pull his hair out, but he stowed the frustration and began to walk towards Rukia's with a deep scowl on his face. Once he had answers for what happened last night he would be able to hunt down the bastards who had taken his car and beat the shit out of them.
The walk to Rukia's was about fifteen minutes, and in that time he tried to clear his head and remember what happened. But it was futile. The last thing he remembered was being on the front step of Rukia's house staring up into the sky with Rukia at his side...and then little flashes of walking through some dark place and then a flashing light and voices and then...nothing.
Ichigo shook his head. Hopefully Renji or Rukia would have more. His mind was too befuddled to piece together the fragmented pieces that were his memories.
As he turned onto her street he noticed a few black vans parked around the woods near her house. He frowned at them, something clicking in the back of his head at the sight of it. He tried to discern the clicking, but came up empty. He couldn't figure out why the vans meant something to him...or was it the woods?
Suddenly, Ichigo's brain kicked into high gear and he was assaulted by the memory of walking through the woods with Renji and Rukia. His eyes widened as he scanned over the new memories, trying to push it so he could remember more, but that's all his brain permitted him.
They had been in the woods last night! But why? Why would they be meandering through the woods at night?
Ichigo turned away from the woods, glad to have something to bring to the table when the three of them met up. When he started down Rukia's street though, all thought left his mind when he saw his Honda parked exactly where he had left it the night before.
"Oh God thank you..." He breathed. He walked over to the car, inspecting it to make sure it hadn't been vandalized. It checked out, and he suddenly gave a frown.
If his car was here, how had he gotten home last night? Had he walked? Why would he? If his newly acquired memory served him correctly: he had been nowhere near too drunk to drive home. He had only one beer, and he handled his alcohol well so it barely affected him. So why would he walk home?
Another question needed to be answered.
Ichigo walked up to the front door, noticing the remnants of the party from last night all over the lawn; such as red cups from the non-drinkers and food wrappers from the most likely high munchies-seekers. He knocked three times, only having to wait three seconds before it swung open to reveal a disheveled looking Rukia.
"Why are you constantly coming late for things?" She complained, looking bitter and tired. It was exactly how he felt.
"Because I know what's waiting for me," He replied, receiving a glare and huff. She turned and walked inside, leaving him to close the door behind him.
Renji was in the living room, which was still set up for a party. Trash littered the floor, the shades of the windows rumpled and bent from having people knock up against it all night and possibly early morning. When had the people left? Had Rukia ended the party and he just didn't remember it?
"This place looks like how I feel," Ichigo said as he walked into the living room. Rukia sat on the couch next to Renji, both looking tired and disheveled. Rukia was dressed in her PJ pants and a white tank top, obviously having just thrown them on while she waited for the two of them to arrive. Renji had on a dirty pair of jeans and a wrinkled baby blue shirt, his long red hair tied messily in its usual tail.
"You and me both, brother." Renji said groggily.
"So..." Ichigo said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. "Anyone have any idea what happened last night?"
They both looked up at him, and then at each other.
"Not a thing," Rukia shook her head.
"Me neither," Renji sighed.
"I guess none of us do..." Ichigo said.
"What's the last you guys remember?" Rukia asked, folding her hands in her lap. "I remember being at the party...and then going outside and that's really it."
"I remember talking to that chick you introduced me to," Renji said, furrowing his brow in thought. "And then leaving the kitchen...walking outside...and that's it."
They turned to Ichigo then, and he shrugged. "I remember walking through the woods."
Rukia raised a surprised brow. "The woods? Why would you be walking in the woods?"
"I don't know," Ichigo sighed, rubbing his tired eyes. "You guys were there too. We were out looking for something...I can't remember what though." He shook his head.
"I don't remember walking through the woods," Renji said, frowning. "At first I thought I had just gotten too hammered and must have gotten into a fight. But when I called Rukia to ask what I had done she didn't remember either, and she doesn't drink so I knew something must have happened."
"But what is the question," Rukia said. "How did you remember walking through the woods? On the phone you said you didn't remember anything?" She asked Ichigo.
"I was walking over here- oh, by the way, my car is still parked out on the street- and I saw these black vans out by the woods and the memory just...came to me." Ichigo shrugged.
Rukia gave a deep frown, her eyes darting around the room as she thought. "A memory trigger...maybe if we go into the woods we'll remember what happened?" She offered.
"You want to go walking into the woods? Are you crazy?" Renji said, looking at her dubiously. "I figure that whatever happened to us was bad, what with the blood, so why on God's green earth would you want to go back? What if it happens again?"
"I want to know what happened," Ichigo said. "Maybe Rukia is right. If we just go for a walk through the woods we might remember and we can just move on. What's the harm in a little walk?" He asked.
Renji shook his head. "You wouldn't be saying that if you had my headache." He said.
"Quit your bitching," Rukia snorted. "It's happening. Just let me go get some better pants on." She said, standing and running up the stairs to her room.
–
Once Rukia was dressed the three of them left her house and walked down the street towards the woods. Rukia now wore a pair of faded black jeans and a white sweater, her rumpled hair smoothed back into a small bun on the back of her head. Ichigo was surprised she had put her hair back, because after she had cut her hair last year she hadn't done this. It was the first time he had seen her with her hair back, and he couldn't help but stare a little.
He noticed Renji doing the same thing.
Once they got close enough, Ichigo pointed to the black vans parked outside of the woods. There were a total of four, all the same and left alone as whoever owned them was gone, most likely into the woods.
"There they are," Ichigo said. "I saw them and something just went pop in my head and there we were, walking through the woods."
"Yeah..." Rukia whispered, her eyes slightly wide as she stared at the trees. "It's starting to come back to me..."
"I've got nothing," Renji said blankly.
"Probably because you were drunk." Ichigo said. "If I remember right...you were drunk and..."
"He was being a pain in the ass!" Rukia said loudly, snapping her fingers. Renji scowled, but before he could protest she continued, "I remember that! We were looking for something, and Renji was being an idiot and we kept following him and then there was this...hole..."
Both Ichigo and Renji frowned at her, but she paid them no heed as she marched forward towards the woods. They gave each other odd looks, following closely behind as to not be left in her dust.
It didn't take long for them to break the perimeter of the woods and start trekking through the brush. Everything started slowly coming back to Ichigo as he walked alongside Rukia and Renji. Each step was accompanied by the memory of another step in this very woods.
"Everything is coming back..." Ichigo said.
"Yeah..." Renji agreed, glancing around.
Rukia remained quiet as she led the trio into the forest. Ichigo was getting an eerie vibe from her as they walked in silence. Was she okay? He was about to ask, when suddenly something yellow came into view ahead.
"What is that?"
"It looks like...police tape." Rukia said, squinting to see the odd thing ahead more clearly.
She had been right. As they neared it became obvious that it was yellow police tape wrapped around the trees, blocking off a wide birth of the forest with bold black words saying Police Line Do Not Cross. They stopped just outside of it, all frowning and scanning the area.
"What's this? Did something happen out here?" Renji wondered. "Is it...related to what happened to us?"
"Possibly," Ichigo said. "This could be more serious than we thought."
"I think it is," Rukia said darkly. "I'm remembering more and more...and I think something really weird happened to us out here."
They both turned to her. "Like what? What do you remember?"
Rukia shook her head. "I'm not sure yet." She said. "Let's keep going."
She grabbed the tape and ducked under it, entering the zone forbidden by the police. Ichigo's brows raised in surprise as he watched her go. He turned to Renji, who also looked shocked.
Rukia didn't normally act like this. She was usually very good at following the rules, especially when she was the one who put them up, and to see her breaking such a crucial rule with no persuading really was shocking to say the least.
But who was he to complain? He wanted answers, and he damn right will get them. He ducked under the tape as well and followed Rukia, Renji soon doing the same.
They walked for a short while, just scanning the area for any sign of what had happened to them. Ichigo's memory didn't seem to be making any great strides, which aggravated him greatly. This walking really seemed to be getting tedious, especially with his headache still in place. There didn't seem to be much in sight other than trees and bushes and dirt. Once or twice he could hear the distinct roar of a car rolling by on the road, but that was mostly it.
"This is starting to get ridiculous," Ichigo said out loud. "I'm not getting anything anymore."
"Just relax," Rukia said, turning to glance at him. "I'm sure that soon enough we'll find what we're looking fo-"
"Hey!"
All three of them froze on the spot as the voice echoed through the air. They all turned as a man in a police uniform came bustling towards them, his face slightly flushed and his eyes wide.
"You can't be out here, it's dangerous." The police officer said. "You need to leave immediately."
Rukia stood up to the officer, a deep scowl on her face. "Why? What's so dangerous out here?" She asked.
The officer seemed slightly taken aback by the intensity of Rukia's scowl, but stood his ground. "That's classified information. You need to leave now before I bring backup and we make you leave, is that clear?"
Rukia continued to scowl at the man, but Renji stepped forward and placed his hand on her shoulder. "C'mon Rukia, let's just go." He said, and Rukia turned to look at him. She sighed, nodding and walking away.
–
"This is getting weirder and weirder." Ichigo said as they were making their way back to the house. "And to top it off I still don't remember too much about last night."
"Me neither," Renji said, his brow furrowed. "Rukia, what do you remember? You are acting a little weird, so it has to mean you remember something we don't."
Rukia shook her head. "I don't remember much...just have this sinking feeling in my gut when I think about last night." She said, walking slightly ahead of them as she fumed over the officer's attitude.
Ichigo frowned, something he had been doing a lot today. "Like what? Were we attacked or something?"
Rukia shook her head. "No, I don't think so. But I think something really strange happened and I'm not sure if-"
"Watch out!"
Up high in the trees, there was a crunching sound as one of the larger branches cracked from its root in the tree and fell down to the earth, directly towards Rukia.
She looked up in shock, her eyes wide as she watched the large branch fall. Ichigo moved to push her out of the way, but she had walked too far ahead and the branch was coming down too fast for him to make it. His heart sank, watching as Rukia stood there, frozen on the spot as she stared in horror at the arm of wood.
"Rukia! Move!"
Rukia suddenly realized what was happening, and threw her arms up to protect herself, her hands splayed open as if to catch the branch.
Suddenly time seemed to freeze. Ichigo stopped and stared at the scene. Rukia had her hands up in the air, her eyes shut tight and her body tensed in preparation for the impact. But nothing came, because the branch was floating in mid-air.
"What the...?" Ichigo's eyes widened. Had time really stopped? He turned to look at Renji, who was also staring with wide, shocked eyes at the branch. Renji met Ichigo's stare, and Ichigo knew time hadn't stopped- it was the branch.
"R-Rukia...?" Renji called.
Rukia cracked open an eye, looking around her in surprise. She looked up, her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates at the branch that floated in the air, suspended by nothing more than the flimsy wind.
"Rukia..." Ichigo called lightly, not daring to move in case it set things back into motion and the branch came down to the earth again. "A-Are you doing that?"
"I-I don't know..." Rukia said weakly. "I feel funny though..." Her fingers started to shake, and the branch did the same. She gasped and fell back onto the ground, dropping her hands. The branch was released by whatever was holding it and came crashing down onto the ground in front of her, breaking in half and splintering in all directions.
"Jesus!" Renji cried, running to Rukia's side, Ichigo hot on his tail.
They crouched next to her as she started to hyperventilate. She was staring at the branch in horror, as if it had sprouted wings and hissed at her.
"Rukia, are you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"What just happened, Rukia? What did you do?" Renji added.
"I-I...I..." Rukia fumbled with her words, shaking her head. "I have no idea..." She said, but then looked up at the two of them. "But...I remember what happened to us last night."
YET ANOTHER CLIFFHANGER! I'm so bad with those! XD
So I've been thinking a lot about this story lately. I've been coming up with new ideas for it and it's looking really good in my head and I want to do them all but then this story would be a little longer than I had earlier predicted. Three-four chapters was what I was thinking, but maybe five-six-seven might be fine also? You guys tell me! I'm trying not to derive from Afflicted too much...lord knows you guys have been waiting long enough with that story without me working on ANOTHER at the same time!
REVIEW!