AUGUST 10TH
…
…
…
Dark brown eyes watched the two women who were standing closely to each other. One of them was demonstrating how to tie a Soul Reaper's uniform knot for the other who watched attentively with hands that were trying to mimic.
… Why did I end up here...?
It was a little past noon and Katsuko was currently at the Squad 10's barracks. She had spent most of her day at Squad 4's medical center with Rukia since she woke up late. The dream she had kept her awake for about two hours last night and she was a little tired.
After she ate, she wandered around and found Rukia on the second floor, where the kitchen was. How could she not find herself wandering there when she heard some quiet muttering with her sharp ears. Might as well have been asking her to stop breathing. Rukia was inside, touching her earlobe while kneading some dough. Apparently, she wanted to make something for Kuchiki Byakuya, her older adoptive brother, who was still recovering from his injuries.
Speaking of injuries, Katsuko and Ichigo got their wounds healed a little more by Inoue last night to accelerate the healing process. That was great.
She stuck around and watched with childlike curiosity as Rukia explained what kind of food she was making. She wanted to make shiratama zenzai for her brother. Sometimes, Katsuko helped bring over some things for the petite Soul Reaper. Clearly, just by watching her, she was putting all she had into making it for him.
However, Katsuko stepped out and walk around for a bit until she ran into Inoue who was coming back to the medical station. They barely spoke for a few seconds before that busty Soul Reaoer came flash stepping their way with an excited smile and invited Inoue to come along and hang out with her again. Her classmate was unsure considering how Matsumoto was a Lieutenant and would most likely be busy, but the taller woman just brushed it off and said it was her day off. She also took this opportunity to invite Katsuko along with them too, sweeping them both away to Squad 10's barracks with flash step. It looked like this Lieutenant wanted to hang out with the Ryoka for some reason.
Honestly, Katsuko didn't know when to shut down the invite.
Katsuko had trailed behind them like a dumb puppy, wondering if she should just bolt back with flash step, but it was already too late by the time she wanted to decide because they were already walking down the halls.
And that's how she ended up in the guest room with Matsumoto and Inoue.
… And with the Captain from Squad 8.
He had appeared in the room earlier so suddenly that it startled Katsuko and nearly sent her tumbling off her seat.
Katsuko was currently sitting next to Kyoraku, rather stiffly. The captain showed up and asked Matsumoto to keep his whereabouts a secret while he sat in the corner drinking what looked like alcohol, promising a treat he wanted to share with the Lieutenant once she finished her little tutorial. He wanted to drop by with them after visiting someone. The taller busty woman was teaching Inoue how tie a knot the way she usually did. In the meantime, he was going to drink.
Katsuko just said she'd let Inoue go ahead and learn first while she sat back and watched for now.
An inaudible yawn escaped her lips which she quickly covered up by lowering her head and hiding her face with her long hair. She shook her head to chase away the remnant fatigue.
"That's quite a yawn." Kyoraku remarked with an easy smile. He was enjoying watching Inoue interact with Matsumoto, as he always did in the presence of women.
Katsuko lifted her head and gave the captain a blank look. "I… uh, had a hard time sleeping last night." She decided this morning that she would keep the details of her dream to herself after what Rukia told her about the law.
"Ah, sleep deprivation can be quite a bother." Kyoraku nodded and took a sip from his cup. "Anyway, where are my manners? I don't think I've formerly introduced myself. I am Kyoraku Shunsui, and as you can see," he gesture to the white haori hidden underneath his pink one. "I'm a Captain, for the eight squad."
"Oh uh." Katsuko touched her cheek with her finger as if to scratch it, timidly averting her eyes. "I'm Hiragi Katsuko. It's nice to meet you." She glanced back at him and offered a tiny smile and a brief nod of her head. She did minimum when greeting him since she didn't know if the Soul Society had some cultural differences.
Obviously, this was enough for the Captain to pick up on her timidity.
"Pleasure's all mine. Katsuko-chan, huh?"
Straight to 'chan', huh?
"A strong yet beautiful sounding name." Then he gave her a friendly smile. He took this opportunity to take a better look at her features. Unsure why he was peering at her face, she averted her eyes awkwardly. "You know, you really do look strikingly similar to Chisaki-chan. If you don't look carefully, you could almost be mistaken as twins. It's surprising." He pointed at her black hair. "But your hair and eyes are different from hers." He rested his chin in his hand. He also pointed out the two moles on her face. "Chisaki-chan is a bit taller. And you also seem much quieter than her."
After listening to him talk about comparing her and Chisaki, she couldn't help but wonder what kind of person Chisaki really was. Was she the person she saw today? Or was that only because of what happened to her in the past?
"Chisaki is loud?" Katsuko tipped her head curiously. She didn't seem loud in the memories she saw.
"She speaks her mind a lot so she doesn't really stay quiet. She can be blunt with her words." Kyoraku half chuckled and reached over to pour himself another cup. "I just hope she won't forget to smile."
His last sentence made Katsuko perk up a little and she gazed at the man with a question mark above her head, no longer paying any attention to Matsumoto and Inoue. Upon sensing her eyes, he lowered his cup he took a sip from and looked back at her. From the looks of it, she must have read between the lines of what he had said.
"Chisaki-chan has been released and has been permitted to retain her rank as the Third Seat of Squad 9 as of this morning."
Instantly, relief flooded her heart for Chisaki. Ever since she saw her memories of that night, she had always been worried about what would happen to her. That relief showcased on her face because Kyoraku smiled at her and nodded his head to firmly assure his words.
"That's… good."
Kyoraku gazed down at his empty cup as he recalled Chisaki's request that morning. She wanted to be alone for a bit. Being wary and always on edge made it difficult for Chisaki to properly reintegrate herself in the society and return to her amicable self. She needed time to just gather her thoughts. This was the result of being alone for thirty years. Ukitake and Kyoraku were kind enough to respect her decision but only after she insisted on it and promised that she would come to them on her own. She already visited her family as per their request, but other than that, she was just distant and lost in thought.
"She's just having a hard time adjusting."
Matsumoto, who had been half eavesdropping on their conversation, looked over her shoulder and frowned a little. "Poor Shuuhei doesn't know how to approach her now." Katsuko looked at Matsumoto as she pictured the face whose name it belonged to. "He even came to me for some advice. He looked so despondent."
Hisagi Shuuhei. Right. He was the boy that Chisaki and her captain saved a long time ago. If he's the Squad 9 Lieutenant today, then that means he's known Chisaki for a long time since she stayed with the squad even after her captain and lieutenant supposedly died. Their names are… Kensei? Mashiro? Right?
Matsumoto gestured to her loose Shihakusho at Inoue that showed off her cleavage.
They were probably close too since he referred to me as 'senpai' when he thought I was Chisaki. I might be wrong though, who knows.
The Lieutenant, with a smirk, grabbed Inoue's collar and pulled it open so that Inoue's chest could show off like hers.
"Waaah!"
"I think you'd look much better like this!"
Katsuko sweat dropped as Inoue held up her hands to her chest with a heavy blush on her face. "I-I'm not comfortable with this…" she spoke softly as she rearranged her borrowed Shihakusho.
"Really?" Matsumoto pouted and placed a finger on her chin. "You should appreciate and emphasize more what you have… I mean, not everyone is so lucky. Just look at Nanao, poor child."
Good grief.
"Who are you calling a poor child?!" a voice snapped. Startled, Katsuko jolted in her seat and turned her head to find a bespectacled woman with her hair tied up standing on the other side of the open window. One of her hands gripped the edge of the window with an irritated look. The window was right next to the couch she was sitting on, so her voice really startled her. Sensing movement from the captain next to her, she found him hastily moving around to hide.
"Ah, Nanao~ Since you're as flat as a runaway, I didn't even see you there."
The woman known as Nanao pulled up her book that she was carrying and brought it in front of her chest, obviously trying to hide the subject of the conversation. "That doesn't matter!"
"But it matters to you a great deal, doesn't it?"
"What are you trying to say, Lieutenant Matsumoto?"
Katsuko averted her eyes away from the two women and couldn't help but wonder, once more, why women wished to have bigger boobs.
Nanao's business apparently concerned looking for the Captain of Squad 8, the man who was currently hiding and trying to flatten himself against a wall to avoid detection with this angle. Katsuko gave the man a befuddled gaze that he responded to by pressing a finger to his lips before taking a sip from the cup he snatched off the table. An amusing sight. However, this attempt to hide didn't work as well as he'd hoped since Nanao leaned her head further into the room and turned to see him. Fortunately, he had flash stepped away just in time and avoided her hawk-like gaze.
"Hmph, he's not here either." Nanao mumbled. "Always not caring a whit about work, always doing whatever he wants." She pulled her head back and sighed. "I have to go and find him."
Matsumoto smiled cheerfully and waved at her. "Good luck, Nanao~"
As soon as Nanao left, Kyoraku came back into the room and breathed a sigh of relief. The sight made Katsuko snicker and shake her head. She imagined a captain to take their duties so seriously, yet here was one who wanted to avoid work to take it easy.
"Maybe we should eat these before it's too late." Kyoraku picked up a paper bag that he set aside and removed the lid of a box labelled tokkuri saichu in calligraphy. He set it down on the table for everyone to see.
With her great eyesight, Katsuko didn't have to look so closely to read the writing. "… Tokkuri saichu?" she read it in one go.
"Ooh, girls from the Human World can even read characters as difficult as these? I'm impressed." Kyoraku praised her. Katsuko, despite putting on a humble front, couldn't help the pride that bubbled inside of her. However, she did let some of it show by mentioning that she can actually read a number of difficult characters as a result of boredom and studying.
"Smart girl." Matsumoto remarked, making her Katsuko's inner self smirk with pride. She'd take praise for her intelligence any day in any world.
"Hiragi-san is actually at the top of our class!" Inoue boasted with a smile as she finished tying the knot the best way she could.
Kyoraku offered her one. As Katsuko eyed the food, she recognized the shape of it but couldn't recall just what exactly it was. It wasn't something she saw or heard about often in the Human World, but it still existed nonetheless. "Sorry, I'm not really in the mood to eat right now. But thanks."
There's just something about it that's telling me not to eat it...
Inoue happily indulged in the offered treat while Matsumoto went to go get some tea for them to drink. To stretch her legs, Katsuko walked over to the window and peered outside, taking in the breeze as Kyoraku and Inoue introduced themselves and ate together. The weather was really nice today. She wondered if the weather in the Soul Society was the same back in the Human World, a curious thought that made her wonder if the seasons happened at the same time. Maybe, if she was allowed to, she could check out whatever cool scenery they had here.
However, a few seconds after absentmindedly hearing Kyoraku and Inoue talk, and thinking to herself, she heard Kyoraku exclaim Inoue's name in a what sounded like confused concern.
Curiously, Katsuko looked back and found Inoue swaying on her feet with a half eaten tokkuri saichu in her hand.
"… Um, what's happening to her?"
"I don't know." Kyoraku said. "We were just eating saichu together."
Katsuko decided to ask the most obvious question. "What's in it?"
When Kyoraku started explaining its ingredients, Katsuko was beginning to fully recall what was contained in tokkuri saichu. It was basically a wafer with a filling, mostly red bean paste, that often had a high content of alcohol. And as someone who had no interest in consuming alcohol related foods or drinks, Katsuko was glad she trusted her instincts to reject the offer.
The black haired girl deadpanned. Yeeeeah? So you just let her jump down the abyss without warning her?
Inoue Orihime got drunk over tokkuri saichu. Great.
"You good?" Katsuko waved her hand in front of her face when she stood in front of her. She wasn't sure how to deal with a drunk person and she certainly wasn't expecting to deal with one at the age of fifteen. And as much as she didn't want to attend to this problem, she felt like she had to with how Inoue was going out of her way to heal her. Plus, she wasn't that heartless to turn a blind eye.
"Hiragi-saaan~" Inoue slouched forward and pursed her lips when she tried to say something. Katsuko shot her arms forward to straighten her up when she lost her balance.
"You need to sit down." Katsuko sighed and guided her towards the spot where she was previously sitting. Matsumoto was just in time to see Inoue swaying as she sat down and was quickly informed of what happened. After she set the tray of tea down, Inoue all but leaned forward towards the table and nearly cracked her skull if it weren't for Matsumoto catching her.
"That was close!" Matsumoto broke in a cold sweat.
"You should have mentioned it had alcohol in it." Katsuko told Kyoraku who fluttered around the drunk teen. "Orihime-chan, are you okay?!"
"Orihime! Get a hold of yourself!" Matsumoto gently patted her cheeks.
Katsuko watched the two older people tend to Inoue while trying to figure out what to do for her.
"Katsuko," Matsumoto looked at the silent girl who had no idea what to do. "Could you get some water?"
The girl didn't respond to the older woman. It was only after a few seconds did she slightly cock her head with a deadpan expression. "Where? I don't know my way around here…"
All of a sudden, the door of the guest room slammed open, startling Katsuko for the third time. Why is she so jumpy? She spun around, and then had to lower her gaze when she saw a shorter person at the door. It was a white haired… boy? Probably not just a boy considering how he was wearing a captain's haori. His turquoise eyes expressed annoyance that complimented the scowl on his face. "Can you people make any more noise…?!"
Katsuko felt offended by the accusation because she was sure she wasn't being as noisy as the other two. And if she had to take a guess, this person was the Captain of Matsumoto since they were in her squad's barracks. She couldn't help but be a little amazed that someone like him was given an important rank.
... Wait, how old is he?
"Captain!" Matsumoto looked over her shoulder and waved him over. "You're just in time! Bring some ice! Ice!"
"Ah," Kyoraku dropped his fist in his hand. "Good idea! We can use Captain Hitsugaya's Hyourinmaru!
"As if I would do such a thing!" The little captain snapped.
While Katsuko stood on the side silently, she noticed someone appearing on the other side of the window, cautiously peeking inside. A head of brown that shone in the sun like gold. Their eyes, blue like the calm ocean, darted around discreetly. Blinking, Katsuko slightly tilted her head when she realized who it was. Naogoma Chisaki was there. Their eyes met. She looked at Katsuko timidly and then ushered her closer to the window with a hand. With no reason to refuse, she sauntered over to the window.
"Can I talk to you?" Chisaki asked quietly as if to avoid bringing attention to herself. Matsumoto and Kyoraku didn't realize Chisaki was standing there. Katsuko was certain that Kyoraku was at least aware because she glanced back and saw how the little captain was looking in their direction. But then he went back to being annoyed by his Lieutenant who kept asking for ice.
I wonder what she wants to say.
"Oh, um, sure." Katsuko nodded once and leaned back from the window. "I'll just go out from the front." She quickly sped off to the entrance and avoided colliding into the short captain with a nimble swirl, dashing out the door without looking back.
When she was gone, Kyoraku turned to the window and smiled gently at the girl hiding. Chisaki couldn't help but lower her gaze. It was almost as if she had forgotten how to be herself around people she was close to. As she was about to lift her head to avoid being rude, she found herself being enveloped in a tight hug while a hand softly patted her head.
Almost automatically, her arms wrapped around the older man.
This was exactly what she was craving after all these years: a physical connection.
Her eyes squeezed shut.
Katsuko thought she wanted to say a few more words of apology, which she honestly didn't mind, but it turns out that Chisaki had more than a few words to say to her. She requested that they speak somewhere in private. Katsuko had to glance over at the window first, where she could see Inoue being taken care of by Matsumoto. Her classmate didn't look any better. Kyoraku gestured for her to simply go with Chisaki and leave Inoue with the grown ups. And thus, Chisaki took hold of Katsuko's Shihakusho and flash stepped them away from Squad 10's barracks.
They ended up in an open area somewhere in the back of Squad 9. From what she could see, there was a cliff to her left and there was a single tree near the edge while more trees were standing in the far back. On her level, there was a wide stretch of grass in front of her. Conveniently, there was at least four rocks on the right that were big enough for someone to sit on. And sure enough, Chisaki chose that one spot to sit with her.
As Katsuko took a seat on the rock, she glanced over her shoulder to check if someone was nearby. Even if she knew that the Soul Reapers were no longer bothered with her presence, she still didn't want to intrude on their grounds. She didn't know if a squad had the same attitude as another.
"I guess I should start off by saying sorry for messing with your life."
Katsuko looked back in front of her and stole a glance at Chisaki, who was fidgeting with her hands.
"If it weren't for me, you never would have gotten involved in this. You would never have gotten these powers."
With piqued interest, Katsuko fully turned her head to look at the brown haired Soul Reaper.
Chisaki heaved out a sigh and lowered her head, looking interested in her hands. "Because of what I did, you got hurt several times and nearly died here." She frowned and looked over at Katsuko who still hadn't said anything since they arrived. Katsuko's expression was unreadable as she just simply stared back at her blankly. "But know that I did try to keep the damage to a minimum."
So, she feels guilty about giving me powers?
"… I'm not mad or anything." Katsuko shrugged and reached behind her neck to scratch an itch that didn't exist. "These powers I have now helped me help Ichigo. Without it, I wouldn't have been able to help Rukia and Renji escape. Oh, and thanks for helping me."
Chisaki rested her hands on her lap and lightly furrowed her eyebrows. "But didn't seeing the Pluses scare you? For humans, that should be terrifying."
The noble knew that regular humans couldn't see Pluses lurking around them. If by chance that they could see them, then they should fear them since it was supposedly classified as something unknown that they couldn't understand. Everyone fears the unknown.
"Eh, it wasn't that bad. They looked blurry so I couldn't really see what I was supposed to be scared of. I just learned to ignore them."
The Pluses she dubbed as 'cloudy figures' became like those tiny blurry black dots she saw in her vision. What were they called? Eye floaters? It was something like that. Those ghosts just became something easy to ignore just like those black dots, as if they didn't even exist in the first place. They didn't even bother her anyway. Obviously, there were times where she was reminded of their existence when they would show up out of nowhere, but they would but eventually just blend in with the background.
Chisaki's blue eyes blinked curiously. She couldn't detect a lie in her voice. The teen sounded so nonchalant as if it truly didn't bother her at all. "If you don't mind me asking, why is it that you decided to come to the Soul Society to save Kuchiki Rukia?"
"I thought you knew everything about me?" Katsuko wondered.
"No," Chisaki shook her head. "not everything. I was in a state of stasis where I can rarely experience or see things. For the majority of the time, it was as if I was dormant to focus on the seal on my Hollow. I was only able to become more conscious when you entered the Soul Society."
"Oh." Katsuko's mouth formed a small circle and she nodded slowly. That was relieving to hear at least. It would be kind of weird if Chisaki knew every single thing about her and how she lived her life. That also explained why she started having strange things happen to her only in the Soul Society. Nothing strange ever happened back at home except for awakening as a Soul Reaper.
"Well, I care about my friend." She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. It should be. "If I chose to stay home, I'd regret it and get nightmares if he died." Just thinking about it made her feel sick. "I'd probably wonder if I could have changed anything if I had tried to help. I'm not trying to live with a regret just because I was too lazy and wanted to stay home." She lifted her legs and crossed them so she could hold them behind her knees. "I also didn't want Rukia to die either. I'm not heartless."
"… So Kurosaki Ichigo was the primary reason?"
"I'd say it's also because I'm self-centered because I was doing this for myself. But, " she shrugged. "I guess, yeah." She shifted her hands to hold her ankles and tilt back a little to stare up at the clear sky. "I know that I can't stop him once he decides to do something. That's just how he is. If that's how it's going to be, then he can get hurt and fight all he wants, but he just needs come back alive, no matter what. That's all I want. Because let's face it, he'll get hurt anyway in a fight with damn swords. So, if me being here somehow helps my friend come home alive, then I don't mind having these powers. I'm actually glad that I do have them now that I think about it."
Any sane friend would find the thought of their friends getting hurt unpleasant. She definitely didn't like seeing it up close on Sokyoku Hill. However, she couldn't shield him all the time so she would rather focus on the survival part.
Chisaki didn't say anything in response to that. Hearing this and remembering how scared she was when she got separated in the Seireitei, you wouldn't think that she was serious. To be honest, she thought Katsuko wouldn't survive that long after seeing how shaken up she was all alone. She had planned to step out at some point to try and help her. But yet, seeing her resolve and determination as she fought and vigilantly planned her movements to see it through made her think otherwise. She did help her a few times, but most of it was Katsuko. However, her own soul that was attached to hers had made her react to familiarity and caused distress, a distraction.
"Can I know why you chose me?" Katsuko finally decided to ask in a soft voice that almost seemed inaudible.
Chisaki startled out of her thoughts and paused for a moment for her question to sink in. The brown haired noble frowned and looked down at her feet. "I'm not sure. You just felt compatible. Any other human I tried to tether with felt as if my own body was rejecting it." She said while putting up a hand to her chest as she remembered the feeling. It felt like a barrier existed between her and any other human before Katsuko. It was frustrating, really.
Then she looked back at Katsuko and offered a small smile, the first smile Katsuko had seen on her even though it looked forced. "Who knows, I suppose that means there's something special about you?"
"… You think so?" Katsuko looked unconvinced.
"That's what I think at least."
The teen blinked twice and then puffed out her left cheek. I thought whatever made me 'special' was because of her?
Chisaki little smile faded as she saw the teen say nothing to ponder curiously. That innocent curiosity that was basically beseeching Chisaki to not tell Katsuko why she sought her out. She really didn't want to say anything, but she had already made up her mind and resolved herself into doing it. It was only right.
"... I should get to the point of this conversation." Chisaki shifted on the rock to look at her. Katsuko caught that in her peripheral vision, so she turned her head to give her full attention, especially after hearing the shift in her tone of voice. "You already know about the Hollow that Aizen implanted in me, right? You saw it all." Chisaki came to the conclusion that he orchestrated that whole scenario to make her emotionally weak and unable to fight back against it. She couldn't think of another reason why he would do that to her. After all, emotions can be a source of strength sometimes.
Chisaki looked at her seriously and placed a hand on her chest. "The Hollow is still inside of me… but it's considerably weak ever since I left your soul."
Katsuko's eyes narrowed slightly when Chisaki paused and clenched her hand into a fist.
...
Oh god, why do I feel like I'm about to hear shit news…
"The Hollow, since I was tethered to you, might have also tethered to your soul and infected you, which could explain why it's weaker inside me. To be honest… it almost feels like it's not inside me anymore. I just… I thought I should let you know."
Yep, there it is. The shitty news.
"I... I mean, I don't have proof but..." Chisaki tried to formulate her words without rambling on. "It could be possible."
Katsuko's mouth fell open slightly and her eyes looked away to stare at the horizon, unsure of what to think or say. Not only did Chisaki give her the ability to have Soul Reaper powers, but now she was telling her she might have given her Hollow too? One of those ugly monsters that tried to chomp on her on the way home that day?!
An exasperated sigh escaped her and she dropped her face in her hand. "Uhh… so, what am I supposed to do now?" was the only thing she could utter without cursing.
"I…" Chisaki tried to form words for Katsuko, but nothing came out. What could she possibly say for causing such a thoughtless consequence? "I don't know. I'm so sorry." She lowered her head in repentance.
"Okay, okay…" Katsuko pressed two fingers against her forehead and closed her eyes to give herself a moment to think. She didn't feel anything out of the ordinary ever since she woke up. Arashihoro never notified her about anything strange either since she was technically a part of her. Taking those two into account, she still didn't know if she could consider herself Hollow-less.
She lowered her hand and looked at Chisaki. "I don't feel like something's wrong inside of me, but should I still be careful?"
"I would."
Great. A brief sigh passed her lips.
At least, she was informed of this potential danger. Was she going to self-destructive? Who knows. But at least she'll know why if she does. And as much as she hated this possible danger, she really couldn't totally blame Chisaki for this. Attaching herself to her was a desperate attempt meant to help her survive, right? If she didn't, she might not even be alive today. Aizen was the one who was at fault here for causing this in the first place. The traitor of the Soul Society indirectly caused her potential Hollow inside of her.
She wasn't going to say it was okay, because it obviously wasn't.
For now, she decided to change the subject after feeling anxiety and stress bubbling inside the pit of her stomach. That was her mind's cue to think of something else. Surrounding them was a such a peaceful scenery that having her mind panic seemed so wrong. "… So, because the Hollow is weak inside you, you're allowed to retain your rank?"
Chisaki paused for a second, taken back by the sudden change in subject. Strange.
She nodded after a brief pause of confusion. "If it wasn't, then I'd probably be cut down for going against the law. Central 46's rule is absolute and they make no exceptions." She said solemnly, a tone that did not go unnoticed by Katsuko. The Captain Commander did warn her about her potential execution if her Hollow became unmanageable though. He understood that it wasn't her fault, but the potential danger that she posed could not be taken lightly. They were only being lenient with her after confirming that her Hollow was not a threat after running a few tests with Captain Kurotsuchi. Tests she would rather not take again if possible.
Katsuko already had an idea as to who she was thinking about. However, she wasn't sure if she should mention what she had seen. And from the looks of it, it didn't seem like Chisaki was aware that Kensei and Mashiro were still alive. She probably didn't even know that the guy who looked like her Captain fended off that Hollow that showed up in front of her when she was nine. Then again, was it truly them? She never really confirmed it. So, what right did she have to give this person false hope about their survival?
And if they are alive today, why aren't they in the Soul Society? Are they retired or something?
"But… that was all I had to say, really." Chisaki set her palms down on her sides to push herself off the rock and land gracefully on her feet. Like a copycat, Katsuko followed her actions almost immediately. "You probably want to go back now."
"Is it okay if we walk back?" Katsuko asked as she stared getting a head start by walking ahead first. Flash step was convenient, but Katsuko thought it wouldn't be so bad to just walk back, especially when the scenery and breeze was so nice. It honestly felt like a waste not to walk through it.
Chisaki, who had not taken a single step, watched the teen walk a few steps with her long black hair swaying behind her. To be honest, she was taken back. Katsuko appeared at ease around her and didn't impose any type of condemnation upon her after what she said, or maybe it's because she just couldn't tell that she was angry now that she was an outsider. A part of her was somewhat grateful that she couldn't peer into her heart, like she used to, because she was a little afraid of what the girl might be truly feeling towards her right now.
Honestly, she felt more distant to this girl than ever, even after years of being tethered to her.
She had only caught glimpses of her growth and came to realize just how long she had been hidden away. The little girl that was walking with a blue backpack was now older and few inches shorter than her.
Flashes of the glimpse she had of her life appeared in her mind.
... She wanted to properly get to know this girl a bit more.
And there was something that was drawing her in to Katsuko. The only person who currently understood her more than anyone else. Maybe that was it.
Katsuko stopped and looked back to see Chisaki just standing there with a face that showcased wonder for some reason. Odd. The girl frowned and wondered if Chisaki didn't want to walk back after all. Maybe she wanted to avoid people? The Captain of Squad 8 did say that she was having a hard time adjusting. She was about to say something until she saw the taller Soul Reaper jog over to her lightly, and then stopped at her side.
"I don't mind." Chisaki walked by her side. "Is there anything else you want to ask me? Now's your chance."
"… Um." Katsuko looked ahead when she started thinking. There were a few things she was curious about, but right now, there was only one thing that came to mind. Something completely unrelated. But it was important. She needed to know.
"Your name is Naogoma Chisaki, right?"
"That's right."
"I actually met two guys who had the same last name as you. Are you related?"
Yes, this was the important question she needed an answer to. Any type of answer will do just to appease her damn curiosity.
Chisaki was aware of who she was speaking of. "Yes, those two are my cousins." She answered. "We all come from a noble family."
"… A noble was hiding inside the body of a commoner? Seems like a stereotypical taboo thing to do." Katsuko quirked an eyebrow as she looked at Chisaki, prompting the woman to chuckle softly. The sound did not escape Katsuko's ears, and it made her feel good that she actually got that reaction out of her. One thing she liked doing sometimes was amusing people with light jokes. Plus, it usually worked as an ice breaker.
"I was more of a fugitive than a noble back then." Chisaki brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. She pointed down at Katsuko's arm. "But you actually encountered three people from my clan. The first one tried to seal off your spiritual power, remember? Fortunately, I easily countered it for you."
"Ahh… that girl?" Katsuko scowled a little when she remembered that Soul Reaper that kept boasting about how unlucky she was to run into her. She was quite cocky until she struck her down. "She was a little annoying."
Chisaki huffed and shook her head. "You can be honest. She was more than a little annoying. Tenka can be quite arrogant sometimes in battle just because she thinks seals will always help her in a fight. Let that fight be a lesson."
"Is that the same kind of seal you used to heal— er, I mean…" Katsuko narrowed her eyes when she tried thinking of a better word. "to close my wounds?" she said slowly.
The noble shook her head. "No, my family has different seals for different purposes. For example, the one I used on you was meant to help someone keep fighting without worrying about their injuries. Simply put, stalling."
"That… seems pretty handy." She wondered if fatal injuries could be sealed away too. If so, then would that lower the chance of death's embrace until that person got medical help?
"It is. The caster is able to decide when to undo it once they become experts in it. Dying in battle could also undo it too though."
"Does everyone in your family know how to use those seals?" Katsuko wondered curiously. Her interest was growing as they continued talking. It was like when she was curious about Rukia once she discovered who she truly was.
"Most members in the clan are excellent practitioners of Kido." Chisaki began explaining. "So many of us are capable of using our seals if we decide to learn them. Those who are very good end up becoming part of this group called the Kido Corps, while few end up becoming Soul Reapers for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads."
"You do more than just seals then? With Kido, I mean."
"Of course." Chisaki said as she and Katsuko made it closer to the barracks of Squad 9.
"But not everyone can be good at Kido." Katsuko guessed as Ichigo and Renji's faces popped up in her mind.
"It definitely varies for normal souls. My family is just a little lucky, I guess. You seem to have a great affinity for Kido too." She remarked with before holding up her hand and creating the orb akin to the one Kuukaku demonstrated albeit hers was much bigger. "You easily gave shape to your spiritual power after getting the hang of it. That's very impressive."
"You think so?" Katsuko mimicked Chisaki and held up her own blue glowing sphere. She noted that it was much easier to conjure it up as if it was easy as breathing. Perhaps they were right. "Yoruichi-san said the same thing." She felt a grin crawling up her face as she felt pride in her abilities. Knowing how she was gifted in something she barely knew certainly boosted her ego.
"Do you learn Kido in the school you have here?" Katsuko tipped her head curiously.
Hearing Katsuko refer to the Academy, Chisaki couldn't help a nostalgic smile on her face as she remembered the easy days that were filled with excitement for knowledge and progress. "Yes. It's one of the four basic forms of combat for a Soul Reaper. Do you want to know about the other three?"
Almost eagerly, Katusko nodded with childlike curiosity as if she was listening to a captivating story. It made Chisaki laugh a little again.
...
...
...
Surprisingly, the conversation ended with the two of them making arrangements to meet up again tomorrow. Katsuko was looking forward to what tomorrow would bring.
Basically, she might have made a new friend.
When Katsuko came back to the medical station, she decided to head up to the kitchen to check if Rukia was still in there. And to her surprise, she found the floor smelling an awful lot like curry from back home. It made her hungry. When she got there, she found Ichigo trying to wake up Rukia who had fallen asleep on a chair.
"Oi, Rukia! Don't fall asleep here! Go back to your room to sleep!" He shook her shoulder with one hand since the other was covered in bubbles.
The next thing she knew, a very displeased Rukia woke up and kicked him right in the face. "Stop shaking my shoulder so harshly!"
"The hell?! You didn't have to kick me!"
"Having fun?" Katsuko playfully said with an amused smirk. The two stopped and found her with only her head poking out from behind the wall.
"No." Ichigo rubbed his cheek with a deep scowl marring his features as he made his way back to the sink.
Rukia blinked drowsily and then rubbed her eye to keep herself awake.
Katsuko stepped out from behind the wall and walked inside to lean back against the counter. "Were you stuck in here the whole time?" she wondered as Rukia sat upright in her chair.
"Mostly, yes. Instead of the shiratama, I thought giving Nii-sama food from the Human World would be a good idea. So, I tried making the spicy curry that I ate back at Ichigo's house. But Captain Unohana said it would better not to upset his stomach, so she suggested making something simple."
That explains why it smells like curry here.
"Wait, so what happened with the curry?"
Ichigo lifted up a big pot that he was busy cleaning in the sink. "I went to Squad 11 to give some. They ate it pretty fast."
"Anyway, it all went well." Rukia sighed tiredly, her tone giving away the happiness she felt. "But I'm really tired. I should go to bed." She admitted and got up from her seat and started making her way to the exit. "Goodnight, you two."
"Goodnight~"
"'Night."
She gave them a tired wave before disappearing behind the wall.
When it was just the two of them left, Katsuko looked over at Ichigo when he called her name. "Did you eat?" Ichigo asked her and pointed to his other side with his thumb. "Because there's still more in that pot." He had already eaten his full back at Squad 11's barracks.
On cue, her stomach growled.
She didn't break eye contact with him and simply placed a hand on her belly wordlessly.
"Plates are over here." he pointed to his other side.
Katsuko dragged her feet over to the opposite side to get herself a plate of curry. She sat down at the only table in the room situated next to a large window that was big enough for only three people. When she started eating, she started a light conversation with Ichigo and asked him how'd Squad 11 liked the human food. However, she could only half listen since she was basically lost in her food. For her, being stuck at the medical station and being forced to eat bland food, this was literally heaven in her mouth. Rukia did a good job cooking it too. Kudos to her.
Ichigo paused when he saw her eating fast. Was she even chewing her food? Her jaw was barely moving. "You're not even listening to me, are you?" he dried his hands.
"I heard keywords so I got the gist of it~" she managed to say through the food in her mouth, a hand up to her mouth, and gave him a thumbs up.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Ichigo reprimanded her as he dropped himself in the free seat in front of her. He decided to keep her company instead of leaving her alone. "And don't eat so fast, you're gonna choke or something."
"Can't blame me. We've been having hospital food." Katsuko pouted and then her pink muscle poked out to lick the corner of her upper lip.
"I thought you were with Inoue. You didn't come back with her?"
"I was with her for a while." Katsuko replied after swallowing her food and started scooping up more in her spoon. "But then I went to talk with Chisaki because she wanted to talk to me."
"She's allowed to be outside?"
"Yeah. She was allowed to retain her rank and stuff. She told me that they deemed her innocent after having her memory verified in some research place… I think… it was called the Department of Research and Development…"
Ichigo's eyes grew wide and he looked like he suddenly remembered something. Katsuko, who had her spoon in her mouth, quirked up an eyebrow. "What's up?"
"Did you know that Urahara-san was a Soul Reaper in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads?" he opened his palms towards the ceiling with a look of disbelief on his face.
Katsuko shrugged in a blasé type manner. "Well, Rukia once told me that you learn to become a Soul Reaper for the Thirteen Court Guard Squads by after you finish a type of school here. I had a hunch that Urahara-san somehow became one after going to school there. I mean, the guy is carrying a freaking Zanpakuto in his cane. I don't think you'd get it at the nearby convenience store back at home." She finished with a chortle.
Kuukaku back in the Rukongai also seemed interest after knowing that Urahara was involved in Rukia's rescue mission. That only solidified her theory that Urahara was from the Soul Society.
"Why, is he famous?"
"Psh, more than just famous." Ichigo leaned back in his seat. "He used to be the previous Captain of Squad 12. He even created the Department of Research and Development."
A moment of stillness.
"Huh?"
"I'm not kidding. A guy from Squad 11 looked shocked when I said that he trained me. The dude's a historical figure."
"That Urahara?"
"Well, who else do you think I'm talking about?" he deadpanned.
"That guy became a captain and a founder of research facility? Hard to believe."
"I don't think it's really a stretch. He knew so much about the Soul Society. Plus, he made the Hougyoku, remember?"
Katsuko frowned and played with her spoon. "Well… I guess. I just… I don't know, I thought someone like him couldn't be a captain." She then lightly pursed her lips and shrugged. "I wasn't expecting it."
Ichigo thought back to the owner of the candy shop with a thoughtful expression with a hand on his chin. That guy was seriously leaving out so much about himself. And on purpose too since Yoruichi said that it was expected of him.
Urahara Kisuke was a scientist and a Captain. For Katsuko, that was surprising news. She wondered if he invented anything during his time in the Soul Society. If he did, what did he create? Did he make those little pills that contained artificial souls in them? He had them in his shop after all. If so, that could mean he must have studied souls closely to know how to cram one into a pill. As Katsuko continued thinking about Urahara Kisuke and maybe his studies on souls, something gradually came to mind, something she had successfully but temporarily put to rest. The worry and stress she had been feeling earlier were now unsealed and freely flooding her mind.
A Hollow? Inside of her?
She was already getting lost in a sea of her own worried thoughts.
"Katsuko?"
She jolted and snapped her head towards him.
"You good?" He was looking at her, his face a bit perplexed by her sudden shock-stillness.
She blinked once, her mouth slightly opening to utter words, yet nothing came out. But this subject didn't feel safe to keep to herself. So she told him after letting out a short sigh. "Chisaki said that… her Hollow might have infected me because she said hers felt weak and almost non-existent ever since she separated from me." She paused as she remembered the Hollows she encountered so far. Each one had one thing in common, they all had the potential to hurt whoever was close to her if she stuck around. And now, with a Hollow inside her, she was going to be that monster who could hurt others. She didn't want that.
"I might have… a Hollow inside me…" she spoke in a tone as if she was forced to realize it.
Chisaki was literally linked to her soul.
"I mean it would make sense, right? She had a Hollow in her soul when she linked hers to mine…"
Like ink dripping on cloth, it might have seeped into her soul.
Ichigo didn't say anything right away. But when he did, Katsuko didn't expect what he would say next.
"So, you might have it too." Katsuko stared at him questioningly and he sighed. "I have a Hollow inside me." He revealed to her. In contrast to her right now, he didn't look too worried about his own. He looked pretty calm about it. But why? Didn't he just say he had a monster inside him?!
"You do…?" she blinked, her voice becoming softer as if to avoid people eavesdropping. "Is it because you almost turned into one?" she wondered after a brief pause.
"Maybe. I don't know." He rubbed the back of his neck. "But I can feel it. It's like a shadow. You can forget that it's there but you'll always be reminded of it."
If his Hollow originated from that time in the pit, and he didn't know about it until he fought in the Seireitei, then maybe she couldn't sense hers yet either. But how long did she have until she could sense it?
"… So," Katsuko looked at him, a bit of hope shining in her eyes. "what do you do?"
"I stay in control and keep my guard up." He looked outside the window. She couldn't see his hand that fisted as he recalled that what happened with Byakuya. "If I don't, he might come out again."
What.
"It came out once?" Katsuko's eyes expressed worry once more, all hope almost becoming non-existent.
"Yeah, in my fight against Byakuya. My Hollow really did a number on him."
She swallowed and lowered her head, averting her eyes, while her left hand reached for the ring on her right, fingering it as if it would bring her comfort. An inner Hollow took control and did damage to a Captain, someone who was supposed to be one of the strongest people in the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. Did the strength of the Hollow depend on the power of the Soul Reaper? Or did its strength really just depend on the Hollow itself? Either way, the thought of a Hollow taking control of her and ruining what she was trying to preserve made her feel sick and scared.
Something out of her control…
What if it just took over when she was asleep back at home?
A monster in her skin destroying things she cared about…
The Hollow that dug its claws into Chisaki's shoulders and bit into her neck like a feral beast. It was… frightening, especially when she pictured a friend in Chisaki's place.
No. No. No. She didn't want that!
Ichigo turned his head and looked at her only to catch a glimpse of the silent fear on her face which made his gaze soften. Perhaps giving her those details wasn't a good idea.
"Ichigo…" she spoke, voice as quiet as a whisper as she lifted her head, showing off her vulnerability for the second time since they came to the Soul Society. "I don't want to hurt anyone I care about. I seriously don't get how you look so calm about this. Aren't you scared that you might hurt someone?"
He wasn't used to this side of her. It's not often he gets to see her look scared like this. He wanted to assuage her fear even if just a little to somehow rid of that face. "Trust me, I am. My Hollow scares me." he admitted. "I'm worried. But I guess I'm just too focused on keeping it back instead of worrying every single second— I don't want to give him the chance to slip out."
Katsuko was staring at him in still silence. But then she finally moved to fidget with her spoon, still looking unsure. Having a Hollow, something that endangered people—souls, was not something to treat lightly. Soul Reapers and Hollows shouldn't mix together so closely. This is something that she concluded after seeing how Chisaki tried to reject the Hollow with her body.
She saw Ichigo fold his arms on the table and lean on them. "Listen, if you do end up having a Hollow inside you too, which I hope you don't, then I guess we'll just have to figure out what to do."
Two heads were better than one.
"Would you… I don't know, help me? I mean, if you can?"
She was desperate for reassurance right now. It didn't matter if it was a lie. She just needed to hear something to calm her heart right now.
Could he even help?
He didn't hesitate to answer. "Of course." he gave her a reassuring look. "So don't look so worried, alright?"
Gently, Katsuko nodded her head.
His words definitely provided some type of relief, like a safety net of some sort after hearing about his own Hollow.
In a way, she was glad to know that Ichigo had a Hollow inside him. She felt a little better knowing that she could go to someone who could understand her. He was really the only person she could turn to with this. "I don't feel like something is lurking, but I still wanted to talk about it." She glanced up at him. "Y'know… just in case I end up getting a mask on my face like you did after you came out of that hole."
I really hope nothing happens.
Then she forced a little smirked as an effort to lighten up the mood. "See? I talked about something important just like I said I would."
Ichigo huffed. "Alright, just finish your food. It's going to get cold." He said and rested his chin in his palm after propping his arm up.
Their conversation of inner Hollows died as Katsuko continued eating the rest of her meal. Ichigo decided to bring up their departure which was set for three days from today and then Katsuko would talk about what time was left of their summer vacation. They were both glad this whole mission happened before the next semester. They were both students who cared about their academics after all. She also mentioned that he should play with Yuzu like he promised or else he'd just be labelled the lying big brother. She might hold it against him forever. He just brushed it off and said there was still time to make it up to her.
When she finished her food, he took her plate before she could even stand and offered to clean it for her. With only her cup of water in hand, she stole a glance at the window as she took a sip and noticed how the sky had turned pink and purple. It was a pleasing sight that certainly beckoned her artistic side.
A lovely calming colour that would inevitably be engulfed in darkness.
Good grief, the ending to this chapter really did not want to be written. This chapter had hands, seriously.
Some parts of this chapter were taken from the light novel Bleach: The Honey Dish Rhapsody