Chapter 2: New Reality
Returning to my senses, the first thing that hits me is the taste of iron. Sickeningly sweet, it doesn't take long to register the sticky liquid as it trickles down my face, staining the pristine grass red.
What have I done?
Before I can even recoil in disgust, my blood runs cold at the sight before me.
Strewn across the field, lay the mangled remains of several students, limbs, and necks contorted grotesquely. Etched on their faces with expressions of pure terror, I step back, a bit nauseous from the overpowering stench.
I need to leave.
Processing the situation, my mind screams in revulsion, realizing the grave sin committed. I- Hachiman Hikigaya have killed- no, murdered not one, not two, but several of my own classmates. For all the resentment I held towards their ridicule, their proclivities in youth, I never wanted to hurt, much less end their lives.
Yet here I was, meters away from their lifeless bodies, my hands dripping in their blood.
Worse was that deep inside, there was a sliver of satisfaction, reasoning that those bastards had gotten what they deserved, that justice had been dealt.
And that feeling was growing, accompanied by a painful hunger.
Hunger… I was hungry. Desperately so. Not for those expensive cutlets which had always made my mouth water with their aromatic fragrance but for something else.
Something like those other spirits…
Shaking my head, I try to suppress the creeping feeling of madness, quelling the voice in the back of my mind, its seductive whispers urging me to feast, promising to free me from the insanity and terrible emptiness.
Already, I could feel parts of myself slipping, succumbing to desire. The mere act of not thrashing around like some raving lunatic now seemed impossible, and as my mouth watered with thick saliva, I struggled to maintain even the slightest modicum of self-control.
Danger-my senses suddenly alert, the heavy mental fogginess dissipating instantly.
On instinct I jump back, narrowingly avoiding a swift woosh to the head.
Looking at the small crater from the impact, out saunters a man clad in a black kosode. Middle-aged with battle scars peppering his cheeks, I warily gaze at his bloodthirsty expression as he brandishes out a pristine katana.
It was just my luck to be meeting an exorcist this early.
Briefly glancing at the grisly scene, the exorcist only widens his smile, eyes glistening in anticipation.
"I see that you're a violent one Hollow. That's fine …I like opponents with some spunk." my opponent declares, immediately charging.
Surprisingly fast, it takes a few moments before his blade reaches striking range. Launching a full 180° swing, I try my best to evade again, only to be a little too late as the familiar sharp sting of pain hits.
What sort of crazy exorcist uses a katana? Where was the salt and incense?
"C'mon, Hollow! Surely you can do better than just dodge! What happened to all that killing intent you showed to those kids before guttin' them?"
Hearing his taunts, a sense of remorse filters through the adrenaline. Insane methods aside, it made perfect sense to exorcise me.
Leaving a dangerous spirit alone didn't make much sense after all. More importantly, who was I to resist knowing that somewhere down the line I would continue to endanger others?
While never one for altruism, I still had my principles.
"Exorcist." I wheeze, my voice husky and noticeably low as if my throat were covered by sandpaper.
"What is it, Hollow? Don't tell me you're giving up already! The fun's just getting started!"
Sidestepping to avoid another stab, I retreat a couple steps back, allotting myself some much-needed breathing room.
"I~" suddenly faltering, before regaining my resolve, "surrender."
This was the right thing to do…
As if struck by lightning, my opponent lowers his blade, eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"What is this bullshit?" he screams angrily, "Surrendering to your enemy? Giving up the fight? What type of coward are you?"
One with a conscious, dumbass.
"Please~ while I'm still sane. I don't want to hurt anyone else."
Hearing my words, his expression softens, replaced by sympathy and a small measure of respect.
"Very well, Hollow. On my honor as a member of the 11th Division, I promise that your death will be quick and painless."
Raising his weapon, time seems to slow down as the final blow is struck. Watching the blade inch ever closer, I shut my eyes, my last thoughts returning back to the few good memories I had.
Komachi…
Was I truly willing to never see her again? To never see her smile, her voice, to see her grow up, to never ruthlessly beat the insects that would court her?
Was I really that big of a bastard to abandon her? To effortlessly throw away the chance for the two of us to be together again ~ permanently?"
Perhaps as my teachers always said It was time for me to enjoy my youth, if only just a little bit. Maybe it was okay to be selfish, to act irresponsibly, to live according to my desires just this once. Maybe it wouldn't hurt for Hachiman Hikigaya to indulge in his youth.
"Arghhh" the exorcist yells, his blade less than a meter away.
Consequences be damned, I made a promise to see her again. Bloodstained or not, I was not going to abandon her!
Even if it meant being condemned to this hell…
Even if meant living a life as a murderer...
Swinging my arm, I take a swipe hitting as hard as I can. Feeling my attack connect, I wince in sympathy, watching my opponent gets sent flying back, a small torrent of blood spewing out.
Time to run.
Turning tail, I flee as fast my legs can carry me, the desire to survive overpowering all else. In spite of the attack's success, every instinct in my body screams at me to scram, warning that a prolonged engagement would be fatal.
Spotting a lavish manor, I quickly leap over the roof, landing into what seems to be a picturesque courtyard filled with willow trees and koi ponds. Taking a moment to catch my breath, my haggard condition is all too apparent. Across my pasty gray skin are numerous cuts and incisions, the majority thankfully shallow.
He's coming…
Sensing his presence, like a fiery flame I can't help but shiver in fear. Safe to say, it was painfully obvious from the emanating energy that he was pissed. Very pissed.
Damn it.
Cursing, I can't help but feel a similar wave of energy pulsating off of me. Compared to its counterpart, this one was weaker, tinged with a darker feel as if the origin itself were corrupted.
Calm down!
Shutting my eyes, I take deep breaths, trying my best to stem the leaking tide. With its potent stench of bitterness, it didn't take a genius to figure out how I was detected in the first place.
Reaching out to the stream of energy spewing out of me as if it were some river, I attempt to restrict the flow, refusing to let a single drop trickle out.
Hold it in Hachiman … this isn't anything new. It's just like in grade school when you tried your best not to cry after Yoshida and his friends 'accidentally' spilled water all over your textbooks.
Come to think of it, the whole friend group was clumsy. I never knew it was possible to forget someone multiple times when choosing sports teams.
Boom!
Crash landing, my opponent arrives. Eyes gleaming with a predatory sheen, he looks positively murderous, the entire atmosphere thick with bloodlust.
He'll make an excellent meal.
Drooling from the thought, my body subconsciously stalks the unsuspecting bastard, circling around his battered body. Across his black hakama is a large gash courtesy of my previous attack, the wound's ruby ichor nearly whipping me into a frenzy. Sampling the scent of weakness, my instincts nonetheless warn me that the fight isn't going to be an easy one.
Making my way to his rear, once in position I pounce. Smiling in satisfaction as the first few drops of blood scatter into cool damp air, the onslaught continues, strike after strike launched in quick succession.
Did I get him?
Before I can celebrate, an intense pain erupts, my right arm falling limp as out spews a geyser of blood.
Emerging from the debris, only slightly worse for wear comes out my hunter, eyes bloodshot and laughing maniacally.
"You sure are a rotten bastard, Hollow. To be so dishonorable and attack your enemy while feigning surrender is a new low. I'm gonna enjoy beating the hell out of you, you fox bastard!"
Readying his stance, I shudder watching him lick his blade.
"Pulverize Kaminoikari!"
Immediately, the wind starts to howl, trees bristling in fear, as the air turns thick with the scent of divine anger. Gone was the crazy exorcist's katana, replaced by a giant steel club that towered a good head above its owner.
Bam!
Set flying back, it takes a few moments for the pain to actually register. Trying to stand up, I am soon knocked down, hit again by another heavy blow.
Whack! Thump! Thump!
Wincing as the one-sided beating continues, the injuries start to take their toll. Already dizzy from the first few hits, it doesn't take long before I capitulate, stumbling onto the damp ground, entirely at my attacker's mercy.
"Farewell, Hollow! Remember the name Yori Itou as the one who en-" he cries out in triumph, suddenly slumping onto the ground halfway through his boast, as a blue arrow pierces his chest, instantly killing him.
"My, My, My" a cheerful voice sing-songs, "That was a close call, wasn't it, Fox-chan?"
Materializing from the shadows themselves comes out the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Decked with glossy black hair which scraped lightly against her shoulders and smooth creamy alabaster skin, she was the epitome of beauty itself. Sporting a white- double-breasted trench coat and black admiral cap engraved with a Five-point cross, every bit of her attire screamed military and more importantly, danger.
"What do you want?" I croak out wearily. It was painfully obvious that I was completely at her mercy. Considering my debut into the afterlife was now marked by maddening bouts of hunger along with overzealous and homicidal exorcists, it was a fair stretch to assume that my new savior also had a few screws loose.
Still, anything couldn't be worse than dying to some balding battle junkie. Right?
Sensing my alarm, my savior crouches beside my head, stroking it reassuringly.
"There, there, Fox-chan! Is that how you display gratitude? Lil' old me came all the way out here and fought a Shinigami just for you."
"Oi! I'm not a pet you know! Also, my name is Hikigaya, not Fox-chan!"
Hearing my answer, for a brief second her eyes narrow ever so slightly, before instantly returning to normal. Muttering something unintelligible under her breath, she turns back to face me, her breasts swaying mere centimeters from my face away like gentle mounds.
Too close! Too close! This was seriously dangerous!
"So, Fox-chan, how long has it been since you became a Hollow?" her honeyed words holding a slight edge.
"What's a Hollow?" I answer, pausing, taking into account her raised eyebrows before explaining, "I've only just died a few days ago."
Staring intently at me for what seems to be an eternity, my savior breaks the tense silence, bursting into laughter.
"You really are one-of-a-kind, Fox-chan. To answer your question, Hollows are just discontent souls who've lost their minds to bitterness and spite. Most of them aren't like you and are shambling beasts with minimal intelligence. Of course, all of them, and that includes you, Fox-chan, feel the overwhelming compulsion to consume the souls of others."
"What if you try to resist the urge?" My heart clenched in a grotesque combination of pain and ecstasy at the thought of eating Komachi's soul.
Giving an apologetical look, she pauses for a bit before answering.
"You can't. Eventually, the constant hunger drives you mad and you'll end up breaking anyways. Even a Hollow as intelligent as you isn't immune to nature."
"Then my fam~"
"They would be risks visiting them, yes."
Met with the new reality, a subdued silence descends, covering the entire courtyard. For a second even the prominent water fountain falls still, the loud torrent of water splashing into the many Koi ponds strangely absent.
Picking up on the mood, my savior softens her expression, poking at my cheeks with her dainty fingers.
"Don't be so down, Fox-chan. There is a less risky way you could see them."
"What is it?" my eagerness betraying me.
"Become more powerful- Hollows like you are attracted to beings with higher spiritual power so Humans are generally left alone unless provoked. Of course, anyone you were especially close to when you were living is more prone to being attacked. However, I'm sure if you grow more powerful by consuming the souls of others, your level of self-control would grow by leaps and bounds."
Grimacing at the thought of consuming another spirit willingly, my feelings are mixed, split between the tantalizing thought and revulsion.
"And the Shinigami? What are they? Exorcists?"
For a second, my savior's expression darkens as she lets a wry chuckle. A well-versed expert on the varying glances of hatred, disgust, and pretty much every negative emotion under the rainbow, it was obvious she hated them.
"I guess you can say that. Their job is to find spirits and help them pass on. Of course that includes hunting Hollows … along with just about anyone else who they believe opposes their self-imposed agenda." the last part holding barely concealed vitriol.
"But let's focus on the bright side, Fox-chan!" she abruptly moves to whisper into my ear, "Why don't you enjoy the present Big Sis caught for you", gesturing cutely to the nearby Shinigami corpse.
Seriously, what was up with this girl? Despite the morbid request, she made it sound as if we were lovers exchanging penchants of affection.
Grunting, I walk over toward the dead body, fresh blood still trickling out, forming a nearby puddle. Glancing over at my reflection I am greeted by the visage of a small fox-shaped creature, its head covered almost completely by a chalk-white mask, and a gaping hole in the center of its chest.
Close enough to smell the stench of sickly sweet iron, my instincts soon take over. As the first bite reaches my tongue, a wave of relief washes over me, urging me to eat more. Continuing my feast, it isn't long before the last bits are consumed, accompanied by a feeling of immense power coursing through my veins.
Turning to look at my wounds, it takes a moment to register that they have entirely disappeared. Filled with an unimaginable euphoria, it takes every ounce of willpower to not roar like some maniac.
"Did you enjoy my gift, Fox-chan?" my benefactor speaks soothingly, stroking my snout, unbothered by the residual blood.
"Why are you doing this?" I ask, entirely suspicious of her motives.
As my father had drunkenly lamented to me after coming back from a late night of work 'The women who would chat up you up on the street were only interested in your wallet.'
In other words, acts of kindness were calculated ploys with ulterior motives. Unfortunately, by the time of his impromptu life lesson, I had already learned the hard way.
Seemingly unnerved by my bluntness, I watch her eyes glimmer in excitement. "I just wanted to be a good Big Sis. Seeing a cute helpless Hollow struggle for his life I had to help him. Did that make your heart skip, Fox-chan?" she exclaims, her head tilting slightly, letting out a cute whimper.
"There may be good girls in this world, girls who live for you don't exist," I mutter quietly underneath my breath. It was a calming mantra of sage wisdom, gained through the harshest of training regimens. A quote that reliably kept me grounded in harsh reality.
Seriously~ who knew getting called gross in your face by the only person who was nice to you at school felt so bad?
Come to think of it, it was quite a shock since she would always bring up my name and giggle whenever talking to her friends.
Somehow picking out my words (by now I was getting the feeling she was leagues ahead of that Shinigami in power), the two of us lock eyes before she suddenly erupts into laughter. "HaHaHa you're hilarious Fox-chan" she chuckles, thumping my back as if I had cracked the best joke she had ever heard.
Personally speaking, I had no idea that my words of wisdom held any comedic value but sure enough here I was, next to a beautiful woman who was laughing her ass off.
Somehow, the experience wasn't nearly as rosy as I imagined.
Wiping her eyes, she sputters out, "You really are too interesting to get purified by a Shinigami." Inching closer so that I feel her warm breath scraping against my mask, "And I love things that pique my interest." the last statement sending shivers down my spine.
Before I can even respond, my savior abruptly stands up, her beautiful face glowing with an unnatural radiance, glowing warmly as it basked in the setting sun's rays.
"Oh, dear! I nearly lost track of time," she exclaims before turning to face me apologetically. "It was a nice chat Fox-chan but I'll be taking my leave" she cheekily beams, "You should really start going too. Shinigami usually work in groups and I'll hate my efforts going to waste. "
"Wait~where am I supposed to go?"
Seriously, what was with this sudden development?
"Hueco Mundo~ just know for now the Shinigami won't be able to pursue you there. Focus your spiritual energy into your palm and channel it into the air as you make a tearing motion. A portal should appear and all you need to do is pass through as fast as you can. Since your level of spiritual energy isn't the highest, it won't be the most stable but it should be enough to get the job done."
Surprisingly enough, her ad-hoc directions work and seconds later I'm taking my first steps into an obsidian abyss, obscured by layers of cloudy mist. Turning back to face the mysterious woman who has saved my life, I chide myself before asking the most normie phrase possible.
"Before I go, can I at least get your name!"
Eyes gleaming with amusement, she answers in the usual chipper tone.
"You can just call me Y. for now Fox-chan." her answer rings as the portal finally shuts.
I asked for a name not an initial!
A/N: And thus completes Chapter 2. Honestly speaking, this chapter was pretty hard to write with Hikigaya as a Hollow. Trying to imagine how his calm and normally introspective character would act as a being ruled by its base desires was a real challenge. Balancing this calm nature of his with the wild uninhibited nature of a Hollow was something I should have planned out further ahead. I hope I haven't deviated from Bleach Canon too much and made Hikigaya seem too human despite his transformation. Plenty of times I read fanfics where a changed setting or circumstance causes Hikigaya feels well~ more like a Self-insert rather than the actual character himself. And while that's fine, I feel that the main charm of Oregairu is the personalities of its cast, particularly Hikigaya's.
Moving onwards, the next chapter will likely be an interlude where we'll see some of the perspectives of the other characters besides Hikigaya. Already I've introduced one of them (hopefully the mysterious savior's identity isn't too obvious. I really hope she isn't too OOC) and as the story progresses I can gradually add characters from both universes. Anyways the next update should be faster than this one but no promises. Stay tuned and please leave a review or any feedback. It really helps.
Post Edit Note: Happy Father's Day everyone!