A Reflection of a Soul: Lieutenant Kazuko Tsukumo is shocked to learn that her friend and subordinate Rukia has gone missing in the human realm on what should have been an easy, routine mission of hollow termination. When sent to find her, Kazuko follows an unexpected trail and runs into a familiar face from her distant childhood that she never expected to see again which awakens long forgotten memories of childish worries and struggles that bleed into the present.
Rating: Rated M. This is gonna get dark the longer it goes.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Bleach, I am just borrowing the characters and plot for a time.
Author's Note: Here we go with chapter 3, I hope you enjoy~
Oh! It will be a while before we see Kazuko's shikai or bankai. So don't expect it to be revealed any time soon! I'm still cooking, I have some details I am ironing out, and plus, there's a reason for her not using it.
Chapter 3: An Unexpected Reunion
"This is a mess." Kazuko sighed, pale hand rubbing along her forehead as Rukia finished her story. "Do you know how many laws you have broken, Rukia?" The smaller woman gulped, nodding. "I mean, what was the actual plan after you gave this human boy your power? What were you thinking?"
"I-I," Rukia blushed lightly, an uncomfortable expression on her face, shoulders hunched, "I didn't think he would take so much! Ichigo's spiritual pressure and prowess is overwhelming. As soon as his spirit felt me pouring my power in to awaken his, which I felt upon meeting him, it took over and took way too much. I didn't expect this to happen, Lieutenant Tsukumo! This was only supposed to be temporary!" Rukia tried to explain.
"Clearly," Kazuko said. She moved her gaze from her fellow squad member to the orange haired human boy that was watching them with a dumb look on his face, spirit out of his body and in a shinigami outfit and sword. "What am I supposed to do with you? This is unprecedented. A human shinigami…" Not to mention, if you change this boy's hair color, he looks like…Kazuko pondered, blue gaze looking over the boy, studying his energy. That's probably one of the reasons Rukia made such a stupid, disastrous decision…what am I supposed to do? Kazuko continued to think. "Why hasn't your energy returned yet?" Kazuko questioned Rukia, "I was unable to feel it at all when I entered Karakura, and I still feel nothing despite you being in front of me. You might not be a seated officer yet, but your spiritual energy was nothing to scoff at. If I didn't know better, I would think you were a human."
Rukia frowned, eyes narrowing as she looked at the ground, "The only reason I can come up with is that Ichigo took most of my powers from me and the gigai I am wearing, meant to be mask my presence in the human realm, is causing them to return at a much slower rate in order to properly hide me," Rukia bit her lip and then bowed to her Lieutenant, "Please Lieutenant Tsukumo, allow me to remain here while my powers return. I need to guide Ichigo and make sure he is trained to defeat any hollows that may be attracted to his reiatsu. Please!"
This is a very serious crime, Kazuko thought, looking at her subordinate and friend, something that could take Rukia's promising shinigami career away from her and cause her to be banished. What am I supposed to do? What would Captain do? Not to mention this human's spiritual pressure is not normal…nor is Rukia's. It should definitely be higher than it is, Kazuko sighed, rubbing her forehead again, I need time to think of a plan. But I can't just return empty handed nor can I leave Rukia here…what to do, what to do. What a mess….
"L-Lieutenant?" Rukia spoke, concerned for how stressed her superior was looking. She felt guilty for causing so many problems but she also knew she couldn't just leave Ichigo before he had more understanding of what he now possessed. "I-I understand that I will be punished, that I may even lose my position in the squad but please," She bowed again, "I cannot leave Ichigo yet. Please allow me to stay a little longer!"
"Wait-" Ichigo tried to speak up, still confused.
Kazuko cut him off. "I have been given some leeway on the timeline of this mission. I was meant to find you or investigate what happened to you, and return. Since-" Kazuko sighed, still thinking of a way for this work, "since I have found you, I will have to report back to Captain in the Seireitei. However," She held up a hand as Rukia made to interrupt, "since something unusual is happening here, I will also report that I will continue to investigate what has happened. I'm sorry, but I will have to tell them about your missing spiritual pressure…" Kazuko sighed again, "I will avoid including this boy in the report until we can figure out how this has happened."
"Th-Thank you Lieutenant Tsukumo!" Rukia practically yelled, bowing in gratitude. "Oi! Show your appreciation as well, Ichigo!" She graded the teenager into a bow as yell with a yelp from him. "Lieutenant Tsukumo is trying to help you as well!"
"Ah! Let go! Rukia!" He still had no idea what was happening.
"I wouldn't thank me yet," Kazuko replied, "they very well may demand that you return to be examined by squad 4 for treatment of some kind. Or, they could send reinforcements from another squad to help investigate. We won't be able to hide this boy for long. What a mess…" Kazuko watched as the boy jerked himself out of Rukia's grip, rubbing the back of his head where the girl had grabbed him from and forced him into a bow. "Well, I believe introductions are in order, at the very least." She offered a slight bow, "I am Kazuko Tsukumo, lieutenant of Squad 13."
"Uh," Ichigo bowed back, "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki." he straightened up again, "I'm sorry, what is squad 13? Lieutenant?"
"Ah!" Rukia froze, "that's right! Hahahaha-" She rubbed the back of her head, fidgeting nervously as her lieutenant cut her blue eyes to her in disappointment, "We-we hadn't had time to go over some things yet! I planned to tonight, I swear!"
"I'm sure," Kazuko replied, tone neutral. She really has no idea what is going on. "I will let you explain the politics and squads then. I am going to take care of the hollows I feel wondering about. Where shall I find you afterwards? There is much we need to discuss and examine."
"W-Well, you can meet us at Ichigo's to stay-"
"Uh-uh, there is no way!" Ichigo cut in, panic on his face, "there's no way she is coming back to my house. I already have you in the closet, Rukia, is she supposed to sleep under my bed or something?! There's no way and no room!"
"Ichigo, don't speak to the Lieutenant like that!" Rukia demanded, glare on her face, hands on her hips.
"I do not need a place-" Kazuko began, wanting to stave off an argument.
"Ah!" Rukia interrupted, bringing a hand to her chin in thought, "Lieutenant Tsukumo, you might be able to stay at the shopkeeper's place! He could even rent you a gigai if you decide you need one!"
"...shopkeeper? Gigai?"
&13&13&13&
Odd, Kazuko thought, landing in front of a small, two story building, it doesn't seem like it belongs. Blue eyes looked at the multiple storied, more sleek buildings that hung over the small, wood, two story store. Eyes widened when she caught the sign above the doors. U-Urahara Shōten….
"My, my, what a surprise," A deep, playful sounding voice spoke from behind Kazuko, causing her to spin around quickly, she hadn't felt or heard anything, "to run into another shinigami so soon after Miss Kuchiki, what a week." A tall, lean man dressed in a dark green, traditional samue, over which a black haori rested, wooden sandals and a striped bucket hat on top of messy, blond hair, had appeared behind her. He was walking toward Kazuko with a curved wooden cane, eyes hidden by his hat, a smile on his face. "May I help you, Miss Soul Reaper?"
"C-Captain Urahara?" Kazuko blurted out in disbelief, blue eyes wide. The image before her now was unbelievable, as it clashed with the one in her memories and the history she had been told. A memory surfaces briefly: A much younger Kazuko, barely a pre-teen by Soul Society standards, peaked out from behind her tall and broad uncle to peer up at an equally tall, blond soul reaper who wore a captain's haori and a goofy smile. "Now, who do we have here?"
"Hmmm," A fan was brought out from somewhere by Urahara and he brought it up to wave at his face, smile still in place but eyes examining the shinigami before him. It was not one he recognized, which suggested they became a shinigami after he was banished, but apparently they knew him, which was surprising. He was under the impression that the Seireitei did not talk about what happened all those years ago, and the academy actively ignored teaching about it as well. "Now who could you be? I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Miss Soul Reaper. For you know me, but I don't know you."
This…this doesn't make any sense! Kazuko panicked slightly, mind whirling as she tried to come to grips with who was in front of her after many years. Kisuke Urahara was sentenced to be expelled over one hundred years ago but he escaped before that could happen…and he suddenly appears now? With strange events happening? What the hell is happening here?
"You honestly don't recognize her?" Another voice called, this one feminine and slightly raspy. Kazuko gasped as an elbow was pressed against her shoulder. "You are losing your touch Kisuke." blue eyes traveled from the blond man to the figure leaning against her. A beautiful, slender woman with dark skin and long hair. She wore a long sleeved orange shirt and tight, black pants. Her golden eyes glowed as they took in Kazuko.
"Don't tease, Yoruichi," Kisuke whined, waving his fan.
"How have you been, Little Tsukumo?" the woman asked, ignoring her long time friend. "I'm surprised to see you here, as a shinigami. Doesn't the Tsukumo Clan forbid women from joining the Gotei 13?"
"Wait, your little Kazu?" Kisuke's face was comically shocked, snapping his fan closed and holding it out to his hip. "You grew up! I remember you used to be so small! Now look at you!"
"What-" Kazuko started to say, still in disbelief that was only growing with the arrival of Yoruichi, another Captain of the Gotei 13 that went missing many years ago and a one-time princess and leader of the Shihoin clan. "What the hell is going on here?"
Ah~ We are starting to learn a little bit more about Kazuko, starting to see some of her personality (though not too much yet). She's rather serious, quick thinking, but also caring. And stressed to the max (Rukia…).
I am having so much fun writing. It's been a while since that has happened. Anyway, let me know what you think if you can! Until next time~