She could feel it chasing her, she could feel its wrath around her. Its claws about to get a hold of her body which seemed miniature in front of its very large size. She ran as fast as she could, but the monster was faster. It roared and she screamed. She took a quick turn, and her eyes widened as she realized it was a dead end. She shrunk down, and fell on her knees as she knew that this was the end to her life. But something enveloped her, caged her within it, protecting her from the harm which was yet to befall her. And right when he turned away, she caught sight of a boy, her age, with orange hair, wearing a black outfit, and he seemed to be carrying a large sword. He dashed toward the creature and sliced it in half, making it disappear for good. Along with him were a small girl, and the two turned to look at her, eyes fixed on her own. The sphere vanished, and the boy smiled at her. Her eyes widened as she identified him to be-
"Ichigo!" Misaki yelled, and collapsed face down on the floor next to her bed. She sat back up, and rubbed her head and wondered why Ichigo was in her dream. This wasn't the first time, and she recalled all the bizarre dreams she's had of him lately. And in every one of those dreams, he was wearing black, and there was that same monster like creature. "Hollow." Misaki suddenly said, absentmindedly, as if someone just reminded her. These dreams, were so real, as if it really happened. Like memories she once had forgotten. Misaki shrugged it off, and went to the bathroom.
Minato sighed as he realized he had to go shopping that day. Misaki had to stay home, as she had homework to do, and his father was at work. Minato groaned when Misaki stuck her tongue out at him, and he took the list from her and walked out. If there was one thing he disliked, it was doing house hold chores, then again, which boy liked it? Minato walked into the store and immediately felt a familiar spiritual pressure. It was his sister's classmate, Orihime Inoue, and she also noticed his presence. She eyed him carefully, and he ignored her being there as if she were a pest. Minato quickly grabbed whatever items he needed and rushed out, hoping that the girl didn't come up to him and ask silly questions, which Minato thought she would.
Orihime wanted to talk to Minato regarding Misaki, for obvious reasons. Back in Urahara's store, when Minato was explaining about Magi and magic, she didn't quite understand well because she never knew Misaki was a Mage, or since Minato only explained to Ichigo who already had an idea of what was going on, Orihime felt left out. She forgot about shopping for that minute and ran after Minato hoping he'd answer her questions.
Minato groaned when he heard her call him, 'Misaki's brother1'. Of course he was Misaki's brother, and yes, she didn't know his name. But that didn't mean the guy wasn't irritated. Minato wasn't necessarily rude, but he hated answering questions. To anyone for that matter. And Orihime wasn't an exception. "Misaki's brother-""Its Minato girl, what do you want?" Minato snapped. Orihime panted and looked up at his impassive face, and silently wondered how Misaki was related to this boy. "I need to ask you few questions." Orihime said sweetly. Minato groaned, and "Save it. Go bother Urahara." He said, and walked off.
Orihime didn't give up. "What is Misaki? What are you?" She persisted, and Minato cussed. Minato kept walking ahead. "Please, Misaki's my friend, and you're her brother. You shouldn't ignore me like this, I mean well! I need to know because I care about Misa-""And you think I don't?" Minato growled at Orihime, and his gaze ice cold. Orihime felt goose bumps on her skin, and she gulped. "The reason I ain't answering you're stinking questions is because I care about her, got it girl?" Minato said. "But-""Don't bother Orihime, he won't talk." Came another voice. Minato closed his eyes, trying to contain his temper. Orihime turned to see Ichigo by her side. "Ichigo?" "Go to Mr. Hats and clogs, he surely will answer. This guy-"Ichigo pointed to Minato, "-is just plain rude. Don't think you can get anything out of him." Ichigo glared at Minato, and Minato looked at his face, emotionlessly. "Buzz off, Kurosaki." He said, and walked away.
"But Ichigo-"Orihime looked at his facial expression. "I understand him Orihime. Because if I were him, I would've done the same thing. But less rudely of course." Ichigo said, and turned toward the girl. "Go to Urahara, he'll tell you what you need to know." Ichigo said, and before leaving, "Or just forget about it. Everything's normal now, and we don't need to worry anymore." Ichigo looked down at his feet, 'Unless something comes after Misaki and I won't ever forgive myself if I can't protect her.' He thought to himself and walked away.
Misaki was angry at her brother. In fact, she was so angry she could yell. He forgot to buy the most important item needed in the house, and he walked in like a boss. Misaki grumbled and decided she would go on her own after homework. 'How could he forget that?' Misaki blushed as she realized what that item was. 'It's a female item, and there's no way I'm getting it.' Minato replied casually, and Misaki sighed. After finishing her homework, Misaki put on a trench coat and walked out. She hummed in the streets and kept walking as she noticed the provision store not too far ahead. She smiled and suddenly, she felt a strange feeling envelop around her. It was slightly choking, the sort she felt in her dreams. The feeling was very familiar, and Misaki stood there in the empty street, and turned around to see a huge creature, not too far away from her. Misaki's legs trembled, and she was thankful the beast didn't see her. She slowly started walking away, but right then, the monster saw her. "There you are princess!" Misaki yelped and ran as fast as she could, away from the beast, as fast as her legs could take her.
Something heavy pushed her against a tree, and Misaki was slowly losing consciousness. She shrieked as much as she could, but darkness enveloped her, and she could see another figure near the beast. All she could identify was his yellow hair.
Minato ran after his sister, as he noticed her spiritual pressure fluctuate. 'Damn it! I shouldn't have sent her out when her pressure was developing!' He thought to himself and he saw the Hollow, but before he could use a spell, he saw a blonde boy kill it with ease. Misaki was on the ground, and the boy went up to her and picked her up bridal style. Minato walked up to him and said, "Soul Reaper, that's my sister." The blonde looked at Minato carefully and handed him the girl. "She's got the strangest spiritual pressure I've felt around here. You too, so tell me, what are you?" He asked. "I'm under no obligations to answer that." Minato snapped, and the blonde sighed. "I saved your sister's life. And FYI, I'm not a Soul Reaper." Minato was shocked. "What are you then?" The blonde shook his head and grinned. "Info for info, my friend." Minato sighed and walked away. "Thanks, but no thanks."
"Name's Shinji Hirako. I'm a Vizard." He said, and Minato stopped dead on his tracks. "Vizard?" Shinji nodded. "Ask Kisuke Urahara for more information. But right now, that's all I can tell you." Shinji said. "I'm a Mage." Minato said, and Shinji nodded in approval. "You've heard of us?" Minato asked, clearly surprised. "Yeah, don't be surprised, I know a lot more than I let out on." Shinji said, and walked away. "Wait." Minato said, and Shinji stopped walking. "Hm?" "Let's go to Urahara's now. I'll drop my sister at home. I need to know what in the world a Vizard is, and I need to know what other spiritual beings exist around here in this godforsaken town." Minato said, and Shinji nodded. "Fine by me!" He said, and followed Minato. At home, when his father asked who Shinji was, Minato replied, "He's Shinji." Shinji himself was irritated by the way Minato spoke sometimes. After dropping her off, the two walked to Urahara's shop and Kisuke bellowed, "You two are friends already?" Minato growled. "Idiot." He murmured and entered.
"So, what the hell's a Vizard?" Minato asked. "Vizards are group of Soul Reapers that have acquired Hollow powers." Kisuke said, and "So you were a Soul Reaper." Shinji nodded, "Captain level actually." Kisuke remarked. "So, what's the deal with you?" Shinji asked. "I'm a Mage. You told me you knew what they are." Shinji nodded and said, "I know what they are, but you're not a complete Mage, are ya?" Minato shook his head. "Only my mother was a Mage, my father's ordinary." "Makes you a half Mage." Minato nodded. "What other spiritual beings are there in this town that I should worry about anyway?" Minato asked, furrowing his eyebrows. "Well, for now, only us." Shinji stated with a smirk. "So, your sister, does she have Mage abilities as well?" Minato nodded. "I thought up until we arrived in this town that she was ordinary, but she's a Mage. Only a slow bloomer, is all." Minato said. Kisuke sighed. "Her spiritual pressure increases every day." Minato nodded. "Also, it's a different sort. You conceal your pressure, but she can't because she doesn't know how to. So, she's a primary target to Hollows." Shinji commented. Minato got up on his feet, and "I need to get going." And walked away.
The next day, when Misaki walked to school, she thought of the dream she had yet again. Ichigo and Rukia in it, and Misaki didn't understand what it meant. And the creature from last night, she was so confused she didn't know what to do. She couldn't keep brushing things off, she had to get the answers eventually, but she was helpless. When she reached class, Keigo came up to hug her and Misaki was pulled aside by-"Ichigo?" He looked tired and he pushed Keigo aside. "T-Thank you." Misaki said, and Ichigo smiled. He releases her hand, and sits in his bench, Misaki sits in hers, a blush on her cheeks. She notices Tsuzune smirk at her, and Misaki turned away quickly. Miss Ochi announced that there was a new student in class, and when Misaki took a glance at him, a rush of nostalgia filled her mind. 'He looks…so familiar.' She thought to herself, as she noticed his blonde hair.
"Hei as in Henheisoku. Ko as in Onameimoko. Shin as in Shinseikohai. Ko as in Komashimentaiko." The boy said. Misaki was confused at first then realized, his name was spelt backwards. "Shinji Hirako! Nice to meet you all." He bowed. Ichigo was least interested in this weirdo, and he noticed Misaki looking at him with keen interest. 'She never looked at me that way.' Ichigo frowned. "How does it look? When it comes to writing backwards, I think I'm pretty good!" Hirako told the class. Misaki then noticed Ichigo looking at her, and he looked away immediately, his face red. The chair in between the two moved, and she saw Shinji. He was turning toward Ichigo, and said, "I'll be sitting next to you from now on! Let's be great friends Ichigo!" Shinji told him, and Ichigo was startled. Then all of a sudden, something in Ichigo's belt started vibrating. He got up and ran out stating he needed to use the bathroom. 'Again?' Misaki thought to herself.
Shinji then turned toward her, and smirked. "My my, aren't you gorgeous." He commented and Misaki blushed. He took her hand in his and kissed it, "Shinji Hirako, my fair lady." "Misaki. Misaki Otonashi." She replied, her face a little pink at his behavior.
Ichigo hated his Soul Reaper badge, and as he set out to find the hollow, he felt another spiritual pressure, more threatening than the hollow's. As he turned around, he was attacked by-
"You're Shinji!" And he had a Zanpakuto with him. What in the world was he? "Who the hell are you?" Ichigo yelled, and Shinji placed a finger on his lips and said, "Hush. Don't make a ruckus here, Ichigo Kurosaki." Ichigo was shocked, and he was speechless. "With a spiritual pressure like that, you shouldn't lose your composure. Or you'll be found out too easily." Ichigo was confused. "Found out? By whom?" Ichigo asked. "You're asking me by whom? Idiot." Shinji replied, his facial expression changing slightly.
Ichigo despised the events that occurred next. That Shinji was a Vizard, and he too was one. No, he was a Soul Reaper, right? But something inside him agreed with Shinji. Shinji could help him control the Hollow inside him. But even so, Ichigo wasn't a Vizard, he was a Soul Reaper. He didn't like Shinji one bit.
The next day, when Ichigo entered the classroom, he saw something which made him want to kill. His blood boiled and he nearly went mad. Shinji Hirako was holding Misaki by her waist, his face not too far away from hers. "Hello there, beautiful." Shinji said, and Ichigo pulled him off of her immediately and pushed him outside the classroom and held his collar. "Apologize to her you idiot!" Ichigo demanded, and Shinji smirked. "Is she your girlfriend, Ichigo?" Ichigo blushed and stayed quiet. 'I want her to be.' He thought to himself, and Shinji spoke, "She isn't, and she didn't look like she minded, so what's your problem?" Ichigo was about to beat him when, "Ichigo stop!" Misaki yelled. "It's okay. Forget about it, Ichigo." She said, and held on to Ichigo's arm. His face flushed and he walked back inside. Misaki stared at Shinji's face and said, "You look familiar." Shinji smirked. "Yeah, I know." He said, and walked back inside.