Previously on Bridge the Gap, Kyoukan!
"I can't tell you." That was Urahara's response to Jesa wanting to know about the 'tests' he had in mind concerning his theories about Jesa's powers.
Chapter 4: Powers and Cats
"What?!" I shouted. "Why the heck not?" My anger was back, full force, and I accidentally pulled on the charm so hard the necklace snapped off my neck. Only it wasn't a cross charm anymore. It looked more like a mini orange version of Zangetsu. Same shape and style, but my height (about 5') instead of Ichigo's (about 5'9"), and instead of the white cloth at the handle and the silver edge of the blade, they were the same color and shade as Ichigo's hair.
Anger forgotten momentarily, I just stood there in silent shock.
"That's why." Urahara's light tone was back. "If I had told you that you'd have to be forced into feeling extreme anger or fear to test my theory, it wouldn't have worked."
I let out an annoyed sigh and rolled my eyes. I could see the truth in his words, but that didn't mean I had to like it.
"So what is this theory of yours, Urahara-san?" I asked, deciding to focus on learning what I could about my newfound powers instead of whining about Urahara's typical MO.
"Empathy, Jesa-chan. That is your power, I believe." Urahara answered.
"You mean, feeling others' emotions as one's own?" I clarified.
The self-declared "humble shopkeeper" nodded.
"But... But how does that explain this?" I asked, holding up mini-Zangetsu, which had at some point returned to being my cross charm without my noticing.
"Tell me, Jesa-chan, what were you feeling just before your charm morphed?" he said, answering my question with one of his own.
"Uh, well, really angry, and worried, too," I replied. I had a partial idea about what he was hinting at, but I felt like I was missing a piece of the puzzle.
"And you, Kurosaki-san?" Urahara continued, showing me a shadow of that missing piece.
"About the same, I think, but why would that matter?" Ichigo said, his scowl lessening slightly out of a strange mix of curiosity and confusion.
"Ichigo, you're being dense." I smirked, as it was his answer that confirmed I had the full puzzle. "One, Zangetsu is your zanpakuto. Two, my power is empathy. Three, empathy is usually defined as feeling another's emotions as one's own. Do you get it, or need I be more explicit?"
He glared at me. I was about to go into greater detail when Rukia asked Urahara for a notepad and some markers. I knew what was coming up, and I figured it would be the perfect opportunity for me to test a theory of my own.
I tried to keep my snickers to a minimum as Rukia made her sketches. The first one was of a poorly drawn bunny with spiky orange hair and brown eyes, wielding a giant meat cleaver. The second was of a bunny with short brown hair and glasses, wearing a cross necklace, with a thought bubble of Ichigo-chappy in various moods. The third depicted Jesa-chappy with a thought bubble of Ichigo-chappy with his giant meat cleaver. Sorry, I mean with Zangetsu. The fourth and final sketch had Jesa-chappy wielding an orange miniature version of Zangetsu.
"Any more questions?" Rukia asked.
"Just one. Why are you still trying to draw those crappy Chappies?" Ichigo answered, and that was my cue.
"Mae, Sode no Shirayuki!" I called. And my cross charm morphed to look just like Rukia's shikai. "Wow, she really is beautiful, Rukia."
"Thank you, Jones-san. But could you please tell me how I am now in your inner world instead of Rukia's?" a voice asked in my mind.
Guessing at who was speaking, I answered, "Oops, sorry, Sode-san. That was not intentional."
"Baka!" Rukia shouted in rage and worry. "Where's Sode no Shirayuki?!"
"Isn't that what she's holding, Kuchiki-san?" Orihime asked. "That sword in her left hand?"
"Orihime-san, I don't think that's what Rukia-san is referring to." I hesitantly turned to Sode no Shirayuki's proper wielder. "Sode-san is in my inner world. I promise you, I had no idea this would happen. Perhaps if you took the sword she'll return to where she belongs?"
I held the sword out for Rukia to claim. As soon as her hand grasped the hilt, a relieved smile appeared on Rukia's face and the sword morphed back into my cross charm. "Is she back with you?" I asked.
"Yes. So, tell me," Rukia said, eyes narrow. "What was your intent for calling my zanpakuto's release phrase?"
"I just wondered what would happen." I looked down, unwilling to meet anyone's gaze. "I knew you would be annoyed with Ichigo-san's inevitable comment about your drawings, so I just... reached out with my reiatsu and latched onto that annoyance to see if I could use your powers as my own, like when the orange Zangetsu appeared. I sincerely apologize, to you and to Sode-san."
"Apology accepted, Jones-san," Rukia replied.
"Jesa, please. 'Jones-san' is too formal," I said, smiling in relief that I hadn't made an unfixable mistake.
I glanced out the window and noticed how pretty the starscape was in Karakura. Wait, stars? "Ah, crap," I said, the very model of eloquence. "I'd better be getting home soon. Mom's not gonna be very happy at how late I stayed out. Unfortunately, I can't remember how to get back..."
"That's okay," Urahara said brightly. "Kurosaki-san can just help you find your way back."
"What? No way!" Ichigo said, arms crossed in front of him, reminding me of when he was trying to refuse to do Rukia's job early on in the series.
"So impolite, although I suppose that's to be expected from Kurosaki-san." Ishida held out a hand to Orihime. "Would you like me to walk you home, Inoue-san?"
"Um, sure, thanks, Ishida-kun," Orihime said, taking his hand. "See you at school tomorrow, Kurosaki-kun, Kuchiki-san. Bye, Urahara-san, Yoruichi-san, Jesa-chan."
After the chorus of goodbyes, my attention was brought back to the fact that I didn't know how to get back to my own house. "Hm. I know there was a family—" I started laughing when I made the connection. "Lightbulb! I thought that clinic looked familiar! I can just follow you, Ichigo! And don't you have to get home soon, too? That uber-early curfew?"
Ichigo groaned. "Come on, then. Better get going."
"Um, Yoruichi-san, before I go, could—could I—" I tentatively reached a hand out to her.
"You want to 'huggle' me, right?" the black cat finished. I nodded. "Alright, but just this once," she conceded, sounding a bit like a mom giving in to her child's pestering. That didn't lessen my enthusiasm and gratitude any, though.
"Oh, thankyouthankyouthankyou!" I cheered as I scooped her up off the floor. After about a minute or so, I said in a small voice, "I miss them. So much."
"Miss who?" Ichigo asked.
"My cats. We couldn't bring them with us when we moved here, so we had to leave them with an old friend of mine." I blinked back the tears that were starting to form. "One of them looks just like you, Yoruichi-san. At least you don't drool, like Brea." That thought put a small smile on my face, but it also let the tears break free.
After a couple more minutes of huggling and crying about how much I missed Raya and Brea, I released Yoruichi from my vice-like grip. "Thank you, Yoruichi-san. I really appreciate you letting me do that."
"Sure." Even though she was in her cat form, I could tell Yoruichi was smiling. "Now get out of here before my fur gets even more wet than it already is." She swatted my arm playfully.
A/N: Thanks to my betas, Apocalyxtic98 and Snowy12345679, for all their help.
Reviews are always appreciated, but I won't beg for them.