Chapter Forty-two
Movies…
The movie theater was packed. Uryû just happened to get tickets to a major blockbuster weekend movie. With Great White Shark selling out in theaters everywhere they were all grateful that they could get in.
Ichigo was sure that going in the water would be a problem for many of the theater goers for some time. Hailed as the next Jaws this movie really was more than what they expected. The credits rolled and people started discussing the film in earnest. When the theater lights came on everyone shuffled out gathering their belongings.
The theme music pulsed through the speakers as everyone walked out into the theater house lobby. Rukia held Ichigo's hand as the two caught up with their friends.
"Pretty intense movie," Ichigo said as they walked.
"Have you seen those creatures in the ocean before," Rukia asked.
"They have places you can see them but no I've never seen them in their natural habitat," Ichigo said.
"As a matter of fact it's difficult to keep Sharks like that captive at all. I doubt you'd be able to see the likes of a Great White anytime soon," Uryû said dropping into the conversation.
"They have Great White's in the Soul Society," Orihime asked.
"There is just this strong memory that came to me of surfing and those creatures," Rukia said.
"Now I'm curious about what you mean," Uryû asked.
"I'm not sure it just an image that I see," Rukia said.
"When you comeback we should all go to the aquarium someday," Orihime said wistfully.
"Yes, I would like that," Rukia said.
More promises…it's always like this. They tell me their plans for what they want to do here and once again I am leaving making promises to do this or go here next time.
"How did you manage to get this Australia trip," Rukia asked.
"Bento box meals competition," Orihime said.
"They gave you a trip because you created the best box," Rukia wondered a little surprised because so many people disliked Orihime's food.
"Yes. It had to have all the requirements but the judge said style was as important as substance. So I won. They said I was the most creative and it just looked good," Orihime said.
"Congratulations," Rukia said.
"Thanks. You know part of me would be happy staying around here and cooking for all my friends…and someday my husband and our kids," Orihime said.
"You never really know what you want unless you put yourself out there. Having an opportunity to travel the world, meet new faces and do what you're passionate about sound exciting I'm happy for you too Orihime," Rukia said wistfully.
"How silly bragging like that…I just wish I could take all of you guys with me," Orihime sung out.
"Not at all it's the people not the places. The relationships more than the experiences," Rukia said.
"I thought I was going to teach but then this happened and maybe I'll still teach but I want to try cooking…what's funny," Orihime asked.
"Nothing," Rukia smiled, "It's just that you haven't changed Orihime. I was just thinking that you are still the same Orihime that I remember."
"I know what you mean," Orihime smiled.
"Everything is telling me that I belong here even if I can't-
"Still the same Rukia," Orihime said hugging her friend.
Rukia laughed it was true. Odd to think of how much her friends hadn't changed considering all that they experienced in the last year alone. But it was true. Her brain continued to tell her that she had to distance herself from the false experience of the past three years. Her heart belonged to Ichigo. Her soul wherever it ended up was all that she could think of.
No one pestered the two of them about what happened in the three years. Everyone listened as they poured out their stories. They were the supportive friends that had their back no matter what.
"What should we do next everything is closing up," Uryû said.
"I'm getting hungry too," Orihime complained.
Rukia looked at the others it was plain to see that everyone was exhausted. They all had jobs and school and obligations. Everyone had to keep to their commitments now and it wasn't fair to drag everyone around all night because she had to return.
"Let's just go back to my apartment," Rukia said softly.
Ichigo simply nodded and everyone kept walking in silence.
000
"Defenders of the heavens," Tatsuki repeated.
"Or the sky," Mr. Arisawa explained.
"Alright so no knowledge about this exists. Explain, I mean it is the digital age," she asked.
"For the same reason no one really knows a thing about your Shinigami friends," he said.
"Daddy you know…I know, so you can't really say that no one knows," she said.
"Dragons are in many cultures there is no reason to hide the truth is right in front of everyone. Digital and in print doesn't make a difference. No one believes anymore. Those who do know better than to voice their opinions on such matters I suppose," he said.
"What about the Soul Society," she asked.
"We've lived harmoniously with them for many years now. Our numbers are of no threat or consequence and our role is mostly deemed unnecessary," he said.
"Does mom know," she asked.
"She always wondered why this or that so of course I've told her. It took her years to come to her own conclusions. Just telling her was never enough," he said.
"No one else in the family is like this are they…I mean my cousin-
"Always passed down matriarch line; you are a princess in a long line that dates back thousands of years. My mother, her mother and so on," he answered.
"Princess," she asked.
"I'm sorry I've waited so long to tell you these secrets. I can only give you this back and hope you'll forgive me someday," he said.
She stared at the book in her hand. Opening the front cover she recognized the name on the inside cover as her grandmothers. She read this before…the warrior princess she admired as a child it was a story a legend of sorts.
"This story was real," she asked.
"Memories that you had as a young woman may seem dreamlike and vague but they are very real this was more than a simple fairytale read at bedtime. This was the story of my grandmother's mother…your great-great grandmother," he said.
"But it says grandmother's name on the cover," she said.
"Yes your grandmother did write her name on the inside but it was your great-great grandmother who was the last to represent our kind. The last to awaken such power that I know you too have awakened," he said.
"I haven't awakened any power," she said.
"Something happened that forever changed our relationship with Soul Reapers. The story explains why she was the last," Mr. Arisawa recounted.
"So they are supposed to be my enemy," Tatsuki asked.
"Call me new school but I don't buy into all that enemy crap. I'm more concerned with love," he said.
"A lover not a fighter please dad," she said rolling her eyes.
"Think of your martial arts training. Think of all the teachings that you've learned there. Then look at the past and recognize where all those teachings come from. Generations before you or I had explanations for so many mysteries that our generations brush off as meaningless and mythical," he said.
"What do you know about Renji daddy," she asked.
"Renji specifically or his Soul Reaper kind," he asked.
"Daddy you know that Renji is a Soul Reaper," she asked.
"All I know about Renji is what the two of you have told me and of course I figured out he was a Soul Reaper. After all how could I ignore all these years that your best friend's father was a Soul Reaper," he said.
"I've always had this feeling that we've known each other before…Renji and I…almost like we were meant to be together," she said.
"Everyone in love likes to think so I imagine. I don't buy any of that meant to be crap either," he said.
"Thanks dad," she said sarcastically.
"When my father told me all about the family history I didn't buy it. I told him I was finished hearing all his stories and that he was insane.
When I tell you about the family history you barely manage a question or two. We both know it is because you've had experience firsthand with this strange supernatural world," he said.
"What changed your mind about what grandfather told you," she asked.
"The day you were born. Everything that dad said would happened worked out that way. I wanted no part of it and I remember being frightened and perhaps a little overprotective. I determined that things would be different somehow for you and you'd lead a normal life," he explained.
"Yet there is still something you know about Renji that you are holding back from me," she said.
"You remember the movie with that kid who tells the robot no fate-
"Yeah they were cyborgs not robots so what," she said.
"So I want you to make your own mind up about things without my stories or my father's stories for that matter. Date as many Huyu's as it takes and make your mistakes in this life," he said.
"Even John Connor knew the stories so just tell me and since when did you ever like Huyu," she asked.
"Everyone likes his music he's the second most popular guy around these parts anyway," he said.
"And you can just gloat on to your buddies that your daughter is the inspiration for the songs," she said.
"You're right you would never be comfortable on the red carpet now would you," he asked.
Tatsuki would never forget the day her phone nearly exploded when everyone called her simultaneously to congratulate her on her music video. Turns out Tatsuki had one spot on doppelganger that was even rumored to be dating Huyu at one time.
Huyu had dozens of songs that were coded declarations of his unyielding love for her. She had to accept that she was his muse despite having moved on long ago.
Had she any need to feel like pop royalty he would joyfully humor her. Whenever a new album came out she would get a copy in the mail. He told her they would never be friends but he owed his career to her.
"Stop trying to distract me and tell me the story already," she asked.
"One day a young princess met a kind girl. Now all her life the young princess was teased and the other girls were jealous. The two became friends-
"This is all very general daddy," she interrupted.
The story sounded like a fairy tale book that he read to her at night when she was little.
"Well the kind girl soon learned the princess was in danger. She wanted to help but was unable to do so-
"I think I know where this is going," she said.
"Then you know that this is your story sweetheart and you're the only one who can make it what it is or will be," he said.
"So destiny doesn't exist," she said.
"Destiny is destiny but we all take different paths to get there…to achieve it," he said.
"The wrong path might lead to a different destiny wouldn't you agree," she asked.
"Let me phrase it another way then…is love wrong, of course not we both know that it is the most powerful force there is so if all your paths are guided by love not hate, love not fear, love not envy…then I know you will end up on the right path," he said.
"This has nothing to do with the fact you and mom love Renji," she said.
"He is a good one," he father said.
"You seem to know something else about him," she repeated.
"Let's face it the guys we've met…excluding maybe Ichigo haven't been-
"Stop trying to distract me from the truth. A second ago you were going on about how great Huyu is," she said.
"Everything you need to know about that young man you already do," he said.
"Fine I don't want to know it is better that I don't go digging around anyhow. I don't think I'd find anything anyhow," she said.
"See now you're starting to get it. You make the decisions without my interference. That is the daughter I raised," he said.
"Fathers are supposed to make this more challenging," she said.
"Not when you make the right choice besides your mother is better at challenging them than I am," he said.
No that wasn't the reason her father didn't challenge Renji. She chased those other guys in her past away on her own. The few that she did show interest in became her father's victims in a heartbeat.
So why not treat Renji the same way. She didn't think it had anything to do with any premonition. She believed her father when he said that she only knew what they told him. Then again maybe there was a part of the story that fit Renji so right that her father knew it had to be him. What if he were wrong…is that why he let her come to her decisions on her own?
"I need to be alone right now," she said.
"I understand. Just be careful, now others know what you are they will come for you," he said.
000
"Cereal," Tatsuki said shaking a box.
"That's cool," Renji answered still trying to advance to the next level of the Mind Puzzle game.
"That's cool," Tatsuki repeated getting his attention.
Renji set down the game system and gave her his attention.
"Why don't you just go shopping if you hate offering cereal," he asked.
She ignored the question continuing to stare into the refrigerator. By now you would think he would be used to her moods…he wasn't.
"The invitational is in China, Beijing. I qualified," she said setting items on the countertop.
"Why are you being so depressed about that," he asked.
"I know what's going on with you…Ichigo and the others are planning something…planning on going somewhere and I can't follow," she said mixing up a frozen yogurt cup.
"It's never been a secret," he argued.
"I want in," she said.
"Do you even know what you are asking…besides I couldn't let you go there even if I wanted you there which I don't by the way," he said picking the game up again.
"It's out of the question in other words," she said waving the spoon around.
"There is nothing to discuss. I think I'll go since you seem to want to be left alone," he said turning off the game again.
"I just don't understand why-
"Just go to your tournament. The decision shouldn't be difficult for you. These battles have gone on long before you and will continue after you. There is nothing to…you need to understand or worry about," he said.
"You're right could you just leave. You're right I need to be alone for a while," she said closing the refrigerator door.
"Tatsuki?"
"You're right just go," she said starting unloading the dishwasher. Grateful that her landlord had it fixed so there would be no awkward dishwashing scenes.