~FIREFLY KNIGHTS~
Bleach Copyright Tite Kubo
Firefly Knights Copyright Illand Girl
'For those that need a Guardian.'
Chapter 22: Peace For The Soul
Tensions were high at the first captain's meeting since that day at Sōkyoku hill.
All the captains had finally recovered enough to attend. Even captain Ukitake made an appearance; and while the majority of discussion revolved around candidates for the positions of captain for squads 3,5, and 9, another major discussion was taking place. One that Kurotsuchi would not let go of.
"Captain Hitsugaya, I find it funny that you willingly followed that ryoka girl into Central 46 without considering the fact that you were being isolated as well. What evidence is there that she was not conspiring with the traitors?" Kurotsuchi pressed, but Hitsugaya knew right away that it was not an effort of caution. Kurotsuchi had another angle, of that the shorter captain was certain. Tōshirō frowned, glaring at Mayuri.
"As I have stated in my report, which was delivered to each captain in this room, Naomi Sakurai provided strong evidence that supported my suspicions. Between Lieutenant Hinamori and Ichimaru's behaviours, and the fact that we knew the ryoka's objectives, I found it reasonable to follow her into Central 46 chambers." Hitsugaya defended, finding it ridiculous that he had to in the first place. He crossed his arms before continuing. "Furthermore, while in the Seijōtōkyorin, she gave me no reason to doubt her."
"And you believe what you saw? If Aizen's ability is truly as strong as you described, and capable of flawless control of the five senses, then how can you be certain that what you felt, or saw, was real? Perhaps she was conspiring with the traitors? And it was all an elaborate cover-up? We do not know for certain what went on in those halls." Mayuri looked to the other captains, gaining mixed emotions. Tōshirō gripped his sleeves tightly at the accusations. However, it was Unohana who stepped forward to speak. The woman held herself with composure, commanding the room's attention with a single step out of the line.
"If I may, captain Kurotsuchi. When my lieutenant and I arrived at the Seijōtōkyorin, Naomi Sakurai had already been taken captive by Aizen. When Ichimaru and Aizen left with Sakurai, I inspected both lieutenant Hinamori and captain Hitsugaya myself for injuries. At first glance, it appeared as if captain Hitsugaya's shihakushō was the only thing that had sustained damage, but from the residue left on his body I can discern that Naomi Sakurai attempted to heal him before she was taken. If what captain Hitsugaya's report says is accurate, then her saliva has healing factors. This would match with the remaining residue left on his healed skin. Which means she healed him not once, but twice during their confrontation. One while he was conscious, and the second time was after he had collapsed. Does that sound like an enemy in disguise to you, captain Kurotsuchi ?" Unohana's tone dipped at the end, encouraging him to challenge her. Kurotsuchi hissed under his breath, not giving an inch despite the sound arguments.
"And you don't find it odd? This strange spiritual pressure of hers? Perhaps she is a creation of Aizen's?" He switched arguments but was met with more resistance.
"Once again, captain , while I saw first-hand the release form of her zanpakutō, Aizen seemed just as surprised as I was. He did not look like someone who had manufactured this event. And if what was said on Sōkyoku hill can be trusted, that he moved up the procession of the execution due to Sakurai informing us captains of Aizen's existence, then I find it hard to believe that she has had any involvement with him." Hitsugaya countered. Zaraki piped up, cutting through the tension.
"I'm more curious about this release form you spoke of. A bone mask and horns, and a horrible feeling in your chest. Are you sure that wasn't part of the illusion, Hitsugaya?" Zaraki stared down the younger boy, though not nearly as hostile as Mayuri. He looked excited at the prospect of a new challenger. Hitsugaya frowned, remembering how Naomi looked during their time in the underground facility. The sensation of her spiritual pressure was memorable, and he had yet to ask her about her transformation. Naomi hadn't woken up in three days, still in a coma from the damage she sustained fighting Ichimaru and Aizen alone. He didn't know what happened after he fell, only that she tried to heal him and was taken as a hostage. The events of Sōkyoku hill were put into a report prior to the meeting, and that was the extent of his knowledge on the event. While he mulled over this, more captains gave their input on the matter.
"It is true, I have seen her use these powers," Byakuya added, though he did not look at anyone. The noble stood with his eyes closed as he spoke freely. "She was unable to maintain the form for long but was able to withstand my shikai without releasing her zanpakutō. Her spiritual pressure was enormous even in her sealed state. I can only imagine what it must've felt like fully released."
"What sort of ability is that from? Where did she get an asauchi? Are we to assume that Kisuke Urahara gave both Ichigo Kurosaki and Naomi Sakurai asauchi to begin training?" Captain Ukitake mused, his eyes looking to Hitsugaya for any sort of clarification. However, Tōshirō had about as much information on the subject and he did.
"As far as I'm concerned, we should just get rid of them. Why should we let these ryoka leave after the mess they caused?" Suì-Fēng crossed her arms, frowning. Shunsui chuckled next to her.
"Don't forget, your former captain, Yoruichi is one of these ryoka." He teased. Suì-Fēng froze, she hadn't considered Yoruichi apart of that rag-tag group. The short girl glared at Shunsui, who simply grinned in return.
"I don't see what all the fuss is about. So she has strange spiritual pressure and odd abilities," Zaraki grinned deviously. "It'll just be even more exciting to take her on."
"Is everyone just going to ignore the obvious?" Mayuri snapped. "Are we just going to pretend that girl isn't an arrancar?"
Everything went quiet in the meeting. Tōshirō refused to make eye-contact with anyone as he remained frozen. He had a feeling this was true but having Kurotsuchi spell it out made him re-affirm his beliefs.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, please continue." Yamamoto said firmly. Mayuri grinned, taking the floor as he made gestures with his hands.
"I think it is quite obvious. Whether by Aizen's hand or someone else's, or even if it occurred naturally. The broken mask, the zanpakutō, and the feel of her spiritual pressure. All of it is quite obviously qualities of an arrancar." He looked to the head captain. Tōshirō could feel it, his true intentions were about to come to light. "I propose taking her in to study her, run a few tests to exam what exactly caused her to evolve."
There it was. The true reason he was so invested in this topic. While Tōshirō could understand suspicion, even hostility, he couldn't imagine subjecting Naomi to Kurotsuchi and both individuals surviving for very long. He had his money on Sakurai walking out before Kurotsuchi did.
"If you try to take her from her companions then you will have to face their combined wrath." Byakuya cut in, turning to look Mayuri in the eye. "Ichigo Kurosaki and Naomi Sakurai together are enough to take on most captains in this room. Do not forget that she is the only person to successfully land a blow on Sōsuke Aizen."
Kurotsuchi grimaced, glaring at the squad 6 captain.
"What are you saying? That we simply let her go?" This sounded like madness to him. "A quincy, arrancar, and whatever the hell that Ichigo Kurosaki is evolving into are all just going to walk out of here alive? You can't be serious head captain. This is an outrage!"
Yamamoto looked around the room, noticing how each person had different emotions running across their faces. His eyes landed on Hitsugaya, who hadn't spoken in a while. The only captains in this room who had a right to an opinion on the crew were the ones to actively battle. The smallest captain, however, clearly had some staunch opinions he was holding back for professionalism.
"Captain Hitsugaya, what are your thoughts on Naomi Sakurai?" Yamamoto asked, surprising Tōshirō. The young man looked to the head captain with mild surprise. "Let me be clear. This is not a discussion as to whether she be taken into custody or set free. This is a discussion to decide whether the ryoka need to be monitored for dangerous activity moving forward. Do you believe that Naomi Sakurai is capable of treachery?"
Tōshirō was quiet for another moment, despite Kurotsuchi's fussing. He looked away from the head captain to gather his thoughts.
"She is ill-mannered, disrespectful, and incredibly stubborn. Her spiritual pressure felt as if all life was being sucked out of me when I stood next to her. Had it not been for the fact that I knew she was my ally, I would've agreed with captain Kurotsuchi's assessment of the situation." He could recall every instance she disregarded his authority, feeling small tick marks appear on his skin. But they washed away with his next words. "However, she is also clever and incredibly intelligent. She was able to figure out Aizen was still alive, that Gin was his accomplice, and that they were hiding in the underground halls. Aizen even admitted to trying to get her to kill lieutenant Hinamori, but she chose not to kill her, and even bandaged her wounds before I arrived. She is incredibly loyal, assisting me several times throughout our time in the Seijōtōkyorin despite us not being real allies. I do believe I would've died without her assistance."
His words sunk in around the room, but he decided to add onto it. Tōshirō closed his eyes, remembering Naomi's explanation of her sensory ability.
"Also, there was something I didn't include in the report, it was too difficult to explain in simple words. Sakurai displayed instances of 'knowing' about Aizen through her entire time in the Seireitei. After meeting me, Ichimaru, and Aizen just once she was able to track and discern where we were at all times. She explained it as a smell, that each of us had a distinct scent attached to our spiritual pressure. But at the same time, it does not seem to be link to olfactory use." He looked at the head captain again.
"Because of this unique ability, she was able to partially counter Aizen's illusions. She was still under the control of his Kanzen Saimin, but Naomi was able to tell where he and Gin were in the room at all times. When she released her zanpakutō, apparently, she deflected Aizen own illusions back onto himself without his awareness. Thus, she was able to strike him without him being aware of her movements."
That made a massive impact on the captain's decisions. Yamamoto's eyes widened ever so slightly.
" That will become a major asset whenever Aizen decides to show himself." He said, voice booming. Kurotsuchi scoffed, a choking noise strangled in the back of his throat from the frustration. He'd lost his argument, and experiments. Yamamoto slammed his staff on the ground. "It is settled then. We will allow the ryoka to progress naturally. Should the need arise, we will act, but until then, I believe it is best to leave the ryoka alone."
I felt like a train had crashed into me when I woke up.
My body felt stiff, cracking the moment I shifted, but my mind felt well rested. My next problem to tackle was- well, I had no idea where I was. I had never been in this place before, the entire thing looked unfamiliar in every way. The room was large, and empty. The futon I occupied rested in the centre, with nothing else around. When I sat up, a bit gingerly, I noticed I wasn't in my shihakushō, but rather a simple white robe. It wasn't the first time someone had changed me in my sleep, but it didn't feel any less weird. After coming to terms with it, I noticed a small pile of clothing at the foot of my bed, along with a small note.
Ask anyone in the home for whatever you desire.
Could it be anymore vague? I huffed, reaching for the clothing. There was a mix of traditional and non-traditional clothing in the pile. The biggest article of clothing was a long deep mauve haori with sakura blossom designs on the bottom. It looked expensive just to touch, my fingers must've left some sort of poor person residue on it. But the moment I picked it up I couldn't put it down; it was so pretty . The other pieces were either a new shihakushō, or a lilac coloured dress like the one I had worn back home many times. The spaghetti straps were instead thicker bands with a square neckline, but it otherwise looked very similar and hit just below my knees. The last was a pair of sandals to wear that looked to be like house slippers in material.
The next task was finding a bath. There was this strange sticky sensation all over my back, and I could feel dirt rubbed into my skin still. A bath sounded like heaven right now. I had just picked up the dress and haori, planning to go in search of a bathtub, when one of the sliding doors opened to my room. It spooked me, and for some reason I felt like I was doing something I shouldn't and squeaked. In the doorway a young woman stared, eyes wide, then she bowed to me.
"My apologies, my lady. I was only checking to see if your bandages needed to be changed." She stood up again and gave me a gentle smile at my bewildered expression. "It is good to see you are awake. The others have left the manor for the day."
Others?
Oh, she must've meant Ichigo and the rest of our friends. We were all staying here? Did we all have our own rooms? So many questions swirled in my head that it must've shown on my face. I aggressively shook them all away and looked back at her.
"U-Um, I was told to ask for anything I might need..." I began but was encouraged as she nodded at me. "Could... Would you mind showing me a place to bathe?"
The request seemed to surprise her, but she smiled and nodded. I gathered my things, but the woman took them from me, surprising me. It seemed like she was used to doing it, so I just went with what she wanted. Following that, she led me down a number of halls. After the tenth corner we turned I gave up trying to remember my way back and just hoped she knew where she was going. The woman led me out to a hot spring, and I almost melted at the sight.
"There are bathing ointments and essential oils gathered here," she gestured to the side where a tub of supplies sat. "Please use anything you desire; I will let the lady of the manor know you have woken up."
"Um, thank you! I appreciate this!" I gave a stiff bow to her. She giggled, as if I were some comedy act. It made my cheeks turn pink, but then she glanced down at my body.
"If you intend to fully bathe, I must recommend removing your bandages. Be careful as your back is particularly tender still." She explained. My back? Oh right, my back. Gin sliced me up pretty good. I could vaguely remember the event. There was no pulsing pain, or unshakable agony though. I felt much better than I had during my time in that undergroudn facility. A shiver went through me at the memory.
"Okay, I can do that myself." I said. She bowed, then left as I turned to the hot spring and immediately stripped before stepping in. The heat made a soft moan slip through my lips as I stepped in up to my thighs. It was tempting to just drop in, but the bandages really should come off. Upon further inspection, I found most of my torso bandaged up. The knot for it was just underneath my navel. When I undid the knot, the bandages lost their tension and loosened up all along my body. No blood appeared on any of them, which must've been a good thing, but my back did feel sticky and tender to the touch. Faintly, I could feel the two ends of the cut going diagonally across my back. Part of me was hoping that it wouldn't scar.
I dipped slowly into the hot water, wincing as my sensitive skin encountered the hot spring water, but it melted into bliss after a few moments. I sunk right in, up to my nose, and dunked my head briefly to get every inch of me. The oils and bathing products were nothing like my shampoo and soap back home, but good gravy it could've been pig fat mixed with flower pollen and I would've jumped right on it. A happy little moan left my mouth when I watched the dirt seep out of my black hair. It had been disgustingly greasy earlier, and the clean texture felt so much better. Some red appeared in the water, likely some dried blood still stuck in my roots, but nothing on my head hurt so I ignored it.
"Enjoying yourself?" I knew that voice. Turning in the water, with only my head sticking out, I saw none other than Rukia Kuchiki. She was wearing a dark kimono, looking much livelier than the last time I saw her. She walked to the edge of the spring; arms crossed as she watched me. A small, tentative smile sat on her lips. I nodded slowly.
"I think I might live in here." I confessed. She laughed once, her smile widening. "I'm guessing this is your home then?"
"Kuchiki Manor. My brother and I thought the least we could do was house the people who saved not only Soul Society, but also my life." Rukia said a little airily. I narrowed my eyes, looking left and right.
"Um, what are the odds of running into your brother here?" I asked, feeling a little nervous. Rukia noticed, but a sneaky smile slipped onto her lips.
"You'll see him at dinner. But don't worry, an ' aristocratic lowlife' like him won't hunt you down." Her voice dripped with so much sarcasm that my skin turned white. He'd told her about that?! More importantly, he remembered that?! This was where I died, wasn't it? Rukia laughed at my expression but didn't quell any of my concerns. Instead, she turned back to the door.
"When you're done, just come through this door. Nana will rebandage you and I'll take you for some food." As if on cue, my stomach growled loudly. I turned pink again, but Rukia didn't say anything else as she left me alone. The water eventually raised my temperature so much that I couldn't handle it any longer. I stepped out, having nothing but that white robe to wrap around myself as I walked in the door Rukia went through. My hair hung heavily around me down to my waist. It felt like a heavy towel slapping onto my back. Inside the same woman- Nana?- was preparing some bandages. She looked up to me when I entered and gave a polite smile. Rukia was waiting on a seat that was separated by a modesty curtain.
I walked to Nana. She gestured for me to sit on the chair with my back facing the backrest. After that, I removed the upper half of my top, flipped my hair over my shoulders, and let her do her job. It felt weird. I felt Nana apply an ointment on my back and shifted from the sensation. Trying to do anything but focus on what was happening, I decided to make small talk.
"What happened after I blacked out?" I asked suddenly, not able to handle the silence. Rukia spoke from the other side of the curtain.
"I'm not sure what you might remember. You were conscious for a while after Aizen, Ichimaru, and Tōsen defected." Rukia said. I hummed.
"The last thing I remember..." I felt cold, remembering how Aizen nearly killed Ichigo, how Gin taunted our friends, and the feeling of Aizen's cold eyes on me as he ascended to the menos.
"Try and catch up, little ryoka."
"I remember Aizen leaving, I remember my body being numb and hot, that's about it." I said, voice quiet. Rukia paused, almost like she didn't believe me. I didn't say anymore and waited.
"After that, Orihime did her best to heal you and Ichigo, but eventually we made her stop. She was barely awake and still trying to heal you both at the same time. We settled everyone into the manor shortly after that. Each of you has woken up at your own pace, but you were out the longest. It's been three days." Rukia explained. I sighed heavily. Three days? "Ichigo woke up yesterday, and was waiting for you to wake up, but I convinced him to get some exercise since he was just pacing outside your room all yesterday. Orihime finished healing him, but she's been exhausted, so we decided since your wounds weren't life-threatening anymore that she had to rest up. But everyone has been out in the Seireitei today."
"That's nice. I wonder what it'll be like, not worrying my head's gunna get chopped off." I muttered as Nana instructed me to sit up so she could bandage me from my navel to my sternum. Rukia hummed from the other side of the curtain.
"I heard you have quite the adventure. Captain Hitsugaya apparently spoke volumes about you at the captain's meeting, according to my brother." Rukia explained. "He said you were the only reason he and lieutenant Hinamori are still alive."
I felt a sharp pang in my gut at that, a frown tugging at my lips. No, I was actually the reason they almost died. Aizen even told me that.
"You alone have been able to see through my Kyōka Suigetsu. Or rather, see around it. Because you started to inform the other captains that I had faked my death, I needed to move things along quickly. When Gin told me you knew I wasn't dead, I had to test you and see it for myself."
I closed my eyes, wincing when Nana touched a sensitive piece of skin. She apologized and kept working. I had been so sure that I was doing something good by hunting down Aizen. The thought never even occurred to me that it would be a trap. I hadn't even considered that I might be someone he'd look out for. Nor had I realized that there was an illusion covering everyone in the Seireitei before I walked into that room. A lump formed in my throat at the memory, but I swallowed.
"So they're both okay?" My voice sounded small, even to my own ears. Rukia paused, but eventually answered.
"Everyone is alright," she said softly. I felt a weight drop off my shoulders. Nana patted my arm to tell me I was done. Then she gestured to the folded clothing waiting for me. I found my undergarments cleaned in the pile and hastily pulled them on, then the dress and haori. Nana pulled the curtain back to allow Rukia and I to see each other, before Nana insisted on brushing my hair.
"You have beautifully long hair Naomi! Please, let me style it for you!" She gushed. My face flushed again, but I agreed. Rukia smirked, knowing I wasn't completely comfortable with being fussed over.
"I meant to tell you, but... Thank you for coming to rescue me." Rukia said, bowing. It startled me. I had never felt more like a deer in headlights than in the past few hours, and the day just kept getting weirder. "I understand that you probably came because of Ichigo, but still. You put your life on the line, and for that I am truly grateful."
My eyes were wide as I stared at the bent over Kuchiki. It was funny to think not even a month ago I hated her guts. Mostly my fault, or the situation we were dealt with I suppose. In the back of my head, I remembered Ichigo mentioning us getting along. But now? Well, she was a little bit off.
"I didn't do it for Ichigo," I said, watching her sit back up with a surprised look on her face. I gathered my thoughts, not sure how I was going to go about saying this. "I mean, don't get me wrong. There was no way I'd let that idiot go anywhere if I thought he was just going to get himself killed, but make no mistake, if I thought you deserved to die, I would've stopped Ichigo from coming here in a heartbeat."
There was a silence between us as we kept steady eye contact. Her dark purple eyes locked with my lighter indigo.
"I know we never saw eye to eye, and a lot of that is probably my fault," I said, remembering that fateful night that we met her. Rukia remained silent. "But you saved us. We would've died without you being there, and-"
I closed my eyes, fighting back both tears and a dreadful feeling that curled its way in my stomach. A jealously I couldn't deny as I took a deep breath and shoved it down. I took a deep breath, letting out all the tension in my body as I closed my eyes.
"You helped Ichigo in ways I couldn't."
It burned my tongue to say it out loud, but it also brought this immense sense of relief to me. Rukia was someone who meant a lot to Ichigo, whether he said it out loud or not. And it felt strange to say it and not be worried about her taking my place. Yet at the same time I still felt insanely jealous of her. I took a deep breath, then opened my eyes to see Rukia staring intensely at me.
"You made him want to move forward. You-... You made the rain stop."
"Naomi... I-" She paused, then sighed as a soft smile appeared on her face. "You two are so alike."
"Huh?" I raised a brow. She just giggled.
"Always so blunt and to the point. No wonder you guys are so close." At her words, I gave a breathy laugh.
"Ganju said the same thing." I mused, noticing Rukia looked to the ground when he was mentioned. Before I could ask her, Nana spoke up.
"All done! Would you like to see?" She grabbed a mirror, showing my reflection. I was a bit surprised to see myself, my hair looked glossy and was half pinned up by ornamental chopsticks. The rest of my hair floated down around me to my waist in soft waves. It would become fluffier once it dried. I resisted the urge to touch any of it, too in awe of how pretty the half up hairstyle looked.
"Thank you," I looked up at Nana, smiling brightly. She smiled, then excused herself from the room after bowing to Rukia. I looked to Ms. Kuchiki, who was smiling warmly at me, then she got up and gestured to me to follow her.
"Let's get some food. My captain said he wanted to meet you when you woke up." She said, taking me to the door. Once there I found the slippers I had been wearing this entire time placed delicately by the huge entrance. Rukia waited for me to slip them on before I followed her.
"How far to your captain's?" I asked, but Rukia only hummed.
"It's not too far. I think they mentioned being at captain Kyōraku's office today." Rukia hummed. I paused, taking a deep inhale through my nose. One of the first scents that came to me was Ichigo's. He was straight ahead. Mingled with his scent was one that reminded me of matcha.
"Ichigo's up ahead, can we stop and say hello?" I asked. Rukia looked a bit spooked but nodded stiffly. "There's someone with him. I've never smelt this scent before though."
"So you can smell spiritual pressure." She sounded in awe. "Orihime told me about it, but I hadn't quite believed her."
"Yeah, it was... It was the only reason I figured out Aizen's trick." I admitted, briefly remembering the encounter. The memory of watching Tōshirō getting sliced nearly in half made me shiver, and I banished the memory. We continued in silence for a while longer until my favourite carrot top came into view. A man with long white hair was talking to him as Ichigo scratched the back of his head. As if sensing us approach, Ichigo turned to look our way, the white-haired man did as well. Ichigo's eyes widened when they landed on me. For some reason I felt shy and swallowed. Rukia noticed, leaning towards me as we walked closer.
"Don't look so nervous, he was pacing outside your room for hours yesterday." she said, a knowing tone in her voice. I glanced at her to see a sneaky smirk on her face but didn't have the courage to call her out on it. We walked up to the two, my eyes latched onto Ichigo the same way his were on me. It took a moment for me to realize neither of us had said anything.
"Hey," I said, my voice suddenly small again. Ichigo stared down at me, as if he couldn't believe I was there. I looked him over, seeing no bandages or any wraps besides the shihakushō he was wearing. He looked good, and somehow wider than I remembered him being.
"H-Hey..." He reached for me, my eyes snapped to his again, then he paused. Ichigo's hand fell to his side as he gave a shaky smile. I noticed the refusal to touch me. My eyes widened minutely. Why was he feeling awkward? "I'm glad you woke up. We were- uh- all really worried."
God this couldn't feel anymore awkward if I tried.
Didn't Rukia just say we were both blunt and to the point? But there was no reason to be awkward, right? Hadn't we established that I wanted to kiss him and liked it when he did? Did I miss something? Did he forget? Then it dawned on me we never even talked about it. Was it a one-time thing to him? Was I misreading the whole situation? We had always been comfortable with touch. I always enjoyed his hugs, his soft touches, even eye contact was intense sometimes with this boy. So why was he so distant? Why did it feel like I was being held at arm's length? Did he regret those kisses? Was I overthinking it? I didn't know what to do, or what to say, to fix it. But then I remembered. This was Ichigo, my Ichigo. And no amount of awkward feelings would get in the way of that.
"I heard you were running tracks in Kuchiki manor." I taunted. Ichigo flinched, narrowing his eyes at Rukia, who conveniently moved away to speak with the white-haired man.
"I wasn't running tracks. I was just bored!" He defended. I scoffed, crossing my arms.
"Oh, so that's why you abandoned me? I see, I'm just not interesting enough for you." I looked at him with a deadpanned expression as he looked at me with an incredulous look. "As soon as you get your Rukia back, I'm back to being chopped liver huh?"
I think he considered hitting me for that one.
"Why you little- I already told you it's not like that !" He went to touch my head, but then pulled back at the last minute and crossed his arms instead. I felt my stomach drop again, watching him scowl down at me. "God dammit! How many times do I have to say something to get through that thick skull of yours?"
I spun around, huffing as I crossed my arms.
"Oh I have ears. You just sound like a man in denial." I loved watching him flounder as I turned to walk away. "Guess I'll have to find me a new best friend. I wonder how little captain is doing-"
He pinched a small piece of my haori, stopping me in my tracks.
"Oh who's trying to replace who?! Honestly Nao, it sounds more like you wanna get rid of me." He seethed. I looked over my shoulder at him and smirked.
"Well I want my own soulmate. Excuse me for being jealous of that!" I teased, sticking my tongue out. Ichigo froze up, his face turning pink. What was that about?
"What's this about soulmates?" The white-haired man asked. I looked over, realizing both of them were staring at us. The duo had been silently watching the exchange it seemed. Rukia looked highly amused while the other man looked very confused.
"Ah, nothing. Nao thinks that Rukia and I are soulmates." Ichigo said bluntly. I scoffed.
"You say it like it's a bad thing." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Ichigo let go of my haori, muttering under his breath. The man looked thoughtful as he spoke.
"Well, soulmates is not the term I would necessarily use, but I suppose in the world of the living it would suit that purpose." He mused. My eyes widened when he said that.
"Wait, they're really a thing?" I asked, feeling a bit excited. He smiled at my enthusiasm and nodded.
"Yes they are," he looked between the three of us as he spoke. "It has many pieces of folklore surrounding it in the world of the living, but it is true that there are souls destined to meet. Soulmates are not necessarily those bound by emotions, but rather they are drawn to each other because of lessons that they can glean from one another. They are the ones that will impact your life the most."
"That's incredible," I felt a bit of awe at the idea. "Is there... any way to tell if I have a soulmate?"
The man looked at me, a thoughtful expression on his face. Sadly, he shook his head.
"It's not an exact study. Most people find it obvious once they meet. It can be platonic, romantic, parental, or combative in nature. But you will feel an inexplicable pull towards that person." He explained. I didn't like that he said it that way. A deeply unsettling feeling sank into my gut as I felt like several people could possibly fit that description. The idea of having a soulmate suddenly sounded terrible, especially if it was a combative one. Rukia noticed my floundering and jumped in.
"Ah, Naomi, please meet my captain. This is captain Ukitake of squad 13." Rukia introduced. I brightened at the introduction, jumping at the chance to change topics.
"Pleased to meet you! I didn't see you at the captain's meeting when I first arrived." I said politely. He seemed like a kind man as he smiled down at me.
"Yes, I do fall ill from time to time. But Shunsui insisted I had to meet the little ryoka who stood up to old man Yama." His voice was deep and rumbling, it soothed me a bit.
"Is... Shunsui the captain that was wearing that pink kimono?" I asked. Ukitake looked surprised.
"Why yes, why do you ask?" He looked curious as I remembered the smell of the man.
"Just curious, he had a strange smell." I mused. Ukitake looked confused, but then seemed to remember something.
"Ah yes, Tōshirō mentioned you had that unique sensory ability." He seemed warm and open to it, not at all skeptical like most people. "Well, shall we move our party elsewhere? I'd like to have some tea and chat for a while, if you wouldn't mind."
"I'll have to pass, I'm supposed to meet Ikkaku for some training." Ichigo said overtop my head. I turned to look at him, noticing he seemed a bit awkward still. He looked down at me, then his gaze immediately snapped back up to Rukia and Ukitake. "See you guys around."
But he didn't move right away. Instead, his gaze slowly lowered down to me again.
"Nao... Can we talk for a minute?" He asked, sounding stiff. I nodded, concerned by the way he was acting. Alarm bells were going off left and right in my head. The way he was looking at me, you'd think he was about to tell me he killed my cat or something of that nature.
"Of course." I said immediately. We moved away from Rukia and Ukitake for a minute, Ichigo still had that awkward look about him. He wouldn't look at me, his eyes looking over my head instead. I felt a frown tug at the corners of my lips.
"Ichigo? Is everything alright?" I asked, feeling my nerves spike at how awkward he was being. Even back when he first kissed me, at the spur of the moment feel of it, we had melted into a comfortable spot quickly. But for some reason it felt like Ichigo was staying at arm's length away from me again. Like the past month of training never happened. What happened?
"It's... I don't know how to explain it but..." He looked down at me, and for some reason he looked nervous. "... I don't..."
He sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hand.
"Are you feeling okay?" He asked me, and suddenly I had Deja vu back to the morning after Rukia saved us. It made my chest freeze up as I realized he was pushing me away. It must've been on my face since Ichigo looked startled. Now it was him who looked worried as I lowered my gaze to his feet.
"Nao? What's wrong?" He asked, sounding almost frantic. I clenched my fists, that fold feeling permeating my body.
"Why do you do that?" I asked, letting the hurt come through my voice. He froze. "Why do you keep pushing me away whenever something happens?"
"It's not that, I..." But he didn't finish. I crossed my arms again, not letting him get out of this as I looked up at him. He looked uncomfortable.
"Why are you so against touching me all of a sudden?" I blurted it out before realizing what I said. His eyes widened, my own neck and cheeks felt like they were burning. Ichigo stared at me, frozen. "You... You've always just-"
I lowered my gaze.
"Did I do something wrong?" I thought back to my fight with Aizen, how he'd looked at me like I was a science experiment. I knew from my fight with Byakuya that I was an abomination. I knew from my fight with Tōsen that I was a monster. I thought I had turned back to normal when Gin slashed me, but was I wrong? Had Ichigo seen that ?
"Are you scared of me?" I whispered, cold clenching my chest. I couldn't look up at him, couldn't bear the thought of it being true. If Ichigo was afraid of me, if he thought I was a monster I-...
"What?" He sounded alarmed. "Why would you ever think that?"
I didn't answer, feeling like if I spoke, I might say something spiteful. Something to hurt him, as it was an instinct to defend myself. So instead, I stayed quiet. Ichigo took a step closer to me, raised his hand, then dropped it again.
"I promise, it's got nothing to do with you." I looked up to him at his words. He looked so uncomfortable, swallowing a lump in his throat. Ichigo looked away from me as he spoke. "This time... I really want to tell you."
He laughed a little.
"Actually, you're the only one I want to know." His confession surprised me as he turned to look at me with uncertainty. I stayed quiet, face neutral. "But I-... Can we talk later? After you're done having tea?"
He wanted it to be in complete privacy. I could respect that. I nodded, not changing my face at all despite his words. That cold feeling still gripped my chest. What was wrong? Just tell me . He still looked uncomfortable, but a gratefulness filled his eyes at my agreement.
"Why don't we meet back at the manor? Then we can go wherever it is you want to go." I assured. Ichigo nodded firmly, looking pleased, he swallowed another lump and this time I was distracted by the bounce of his adam's apple. I felt touch starved in that moment, my eyes flitted between his neck and those honey brown eyes. Ichigo stared at me, subtly leaning closer. His hands twitched at his sides, but he didn't lift them this time.
Please touch me.
"Go have fun, Nao," he stared for another moment, then stretched dramatically as he turned away from me. "I gotta find Ikkaku and still give him a what for."
I wanted to cry, but instead forced a short laugh.
"Don't do anything stupid." I teased. Ichigo chuckled, not turning to look at me.
"How can I? You're taking all the stupid with you."
"Well, I must say, you're a lovely sight to behold, Naomi Sakurai."
Shunsui Kyōraku, squad 8 captain. He was... not what I had expected. I'm not sure if it was the way he was lazing about on the deck, drinking sake, or the fact that his lieutenant was tossing rose petals into the wind, or maybe it was because he was slowly getting drowned in said rose petals. Regardless, it was quite a stark difference to the other captains I had met. Oddly enough, it was also refreshing to see.
"Naomi, please meet captain Kyōraku. He's a longtime friend of captain Ukitake." Rukia introduced. I gave a small bow with a smile. Shunsui beamed at me, swishing away all the rose petals in the breeze. A couple landed in my hair, but I didn't immediately brush them off.
"Nice to meet you... again." I said. Shunsui smiled warmly back.
"Yes, you made quite the impression at the captain's meeting. I've never seen such a young soul stand up to the old man like that before." Shunsui chuckled as we all found a seat on the deck. I sat beside Rukia and Ukitake and Shunsui sat across from us. So much for this being an 'office', but it was a lovely little view of a yard. I let my gaze wander briefly, getting accustomed to the space and the smells. There had been two scents following us the entire way here, but both seemed to just be watching for now. When I turned my gaze back to the captains, I noticed Shunsui staring at me. He smiled a little wider behind his sakazuki.
"Don't mind me, I still find it interesting that you exude no spiritual pressure in this state, and yet were able to cut Aizen." He mused. My jaw twitched, but I looked down at the food in front of us. It didn't look appetizing suddenly. "Oh do not take it the wrong way, it's really quite impressive."
"I appreciate that, but I honestly rather not think of... of that fight." To his credit Shunsui immediately changed subjects for me, which I was more than a little grateful for. The man seemed to be genuinely interested in speaking to me, but I couldn't really fathom why.
"Then let's talk about other things! Tell me about yourself Naomi." Shunsui urged while Ukitake and Rukia sat quietly, observing the exchange. I felt a bit embarrassed at the attention, my neck feeling hotter. Again, why the interest?
"I- Well um- why would you wanna know about me?" I thought it was a bit silly and began to wonder what this guy wanted. Maybe I was still stuck on the fact that Aizen had fooled everyone and was ready to assume the worst in everyone else. Considering we had been enemies not even a week ago, it wasn't that large of a stretch to be uncomfortable in their presence, right? Ukitake and Rukia began their own conversation, possibly to spare me the ridicule of folding like a deck of cards. Shunsui sipped his sake slowly, smirking.
"I make it a point to know about every pretty lady I meet." he said cheerily. It made a blush rush up my cheeks. It'd been a long time since anybody had called me attractive, and even longer without it sounding vulgar. Growing up, I was always kinda chubby, and while I would defend Ichigo from his bullies, I also had bullies of my own. Mostly girls mocked how I looked, not including me in group events, little things like that. Add in the fact that I felt like a touch-starved heathen thanks to Ichigo, and I was almost welcoming the strange attention of the captain.
"Oh well, um. Okay..." I genuinely didn't know where to start, or even what he'd want to hear. My mind started to panic as I wracked my brain for ideas. Shunsui chuckled. I looked up to him to see he was watching me with a gentle smile. It put my heart at ease as my mind stopped racing. He didn't look like it was a game to him, nor did I get any ill intent from his actions. He seemed genuine, and very docile.
"You don't like to talk about yourself?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Well, I've known most of my friends since I was little, so there's no reason to, because they know everything about me." I confessed, looking down at the food in front of us. Shunsui hummed, refilling his sakazuki. It wasn't a complete lie that I had told. Anything I was willing to say to my friends had already been said. Well, I was probably going to need to have a talk with Ichigo soon, but other than that I didn't have much to say about myself.
"Well Jūshirō has known me since I was in my youth as well. So I understand the sentiment." Shunsui said, side-glancing at the white-haired captain. Jūshirō paused in his talk, then smiled back at Shunsui. "How about you ask me a question and I ask you one? Would that put you at ease?"
Transactional. Straight to the point. I preferred that sort of talk rather than trying not to ramble about random things that I liked. When I nodded, Shunsui hummed, looking up to the brim of his hat as if trying to think of something.
"Hmm, oh, something I was itching to ask after Tōshirō mentioned it in the meeting," Shunsui looked back at me with a curious lilt to his voice. "He said we all have a unique smell. Is this true?"
The question quieted Jūshirō and Rukia. I lightly bit my lip and hummed, trying to decide how to describe it.
"Yes, it's sort of hard to explain but it's not actually ' smell ' but rather a knowing. Like I associate that scent with you, and it's like I'm smelling, but it's not affected by how far away you are," I looked to the food again. "When Ichigo was halfway across the Seireitei, I could still tell how much spiritual pressure he had. His scent didn't get weaker at a distance, and yet I could sense he was farther away, if that helps explain things."
"Fascinating," Jūshirō said, leaning towards me in curiosity. "If I may, would you mind telling me what sort of scents us captains give you?"
I swallowed, feeling a bit nervous, but nodded.
"It seems to have something to do with personality," My fingers numbly reached for the hilt of my zanpakutō before I remembered she was back in the manor. "I've noticed that many of the scents reflect the zanpakutō that they use as well. Little captain's scent reminded me of winter, like frost on a tree. He also seems to have an ice zanpakutō- Hyōrinmaru was it? But others, like Ichigo's, are more familiar with something they enjoy. Ichigo smells like warm chocolate and the sun in summer."
I titled my head back, enjoying the rays of the sun hitting my skin. Then I refocused and continued.
"Anyway, the scent I get from you, captain Ukitake, is matcha. And you, captain Kyōraku, I smell sake and roses." Both captains mused about this, then looked at each other with a smirk. A knowing look crossed both their gazes as they turned back to me.
"I got to know what old man Yama smells like." Shunsui said, grinning when he looked back at me. I smiled, remembering the scent vividly.
"A campfire." That made both men laugh. Rukia laughed lightly too. Feeling more at ease, I reached down and grabbed something to eat.
"Well there's a familiar face!" Rangiku cooed as I stepped into the office. Tōshirō was sitting at his desk while Rangiku looked like she had been napping on the couch. The little captain was covered in bandages, but otherwise looked to be his usual grumpy self.
"Hey there, glad to see you're both doing okay." I greeted, gaining a grumble from Tōshirō. Rangiku ushered me in, ignoring the mutterings from her captain.
"Oh don't worry, captain's happy to see you're doing well too!" She touched my back and I flinched away. Her musings halted as she hovered close to me. Her voice turned sadder. "Sorry! I guess you haven't fully healed."
"Oh it's alright, it's just very tender still." I explained, moving closer to Tōshirō's desk. The little captain looked up at me, his eyes widening when he saw the vast expanse of snacks in my hands. "These are from captain Ukitake. He asked me to deliver them since I would be heading this way."
"Wh-Why does he keep sending me these?!" Tōshirō groaned, staring at the pile of sweets. I shrugged, giggling a little at the look on his face. Tōshirō grumbled, eyes narrowing at me again. He stared for a moment, the laughter ceasing as he leaned back in his chair to cross his arms.
"I take it you have no lasting damage then?" Tōshirō asked. I shrugged, then rubbed my left shoulder where the slash started across my back. "You were against both of them on your own in the end. I should apologize for that. It was unprofessional of me."
"Oh I wouldn't blame you." I said quickly, remembering how I lost my sanity at seeing Aizen stab Ichigo at Sōkyoku hill. A shiver ran through me. The only difference was I was too wounded to do anything but cry out for him. I couldn't even move at that point. "I would've done the same, honestly."
It went quiet in the room, the memory of that fight kept resurfacing no matter how much I pushed it down.
"Sakurai," Tōshirō started. I looked up at him again. "Was it true, what Aizen said? That you chose not to attack Lieutenant Hinamori?"
That night flashed into my mind, and it blurred with the image of my mother. The night I gave her an ultimatum, and the woman abandoned me. I bit my lower lip and lowered my gaze to hide my expression.
"Yeah, she... She reminded me of someone at the time. She looked so lost and confused. Everyone else I'd encountered looking to fight, they had a sureness to themselves, but her blade felt shaky, disoriented. I didn't want to fight someone like that, not when they're vulnerable." I explained, fisting my haori at my sides. In truth, I didn't want to be further reminded of my mother, but there was no way I'd tell him that. Tōshirō was silent as he digested my words. The silence hung over us for a few moments longer. Feeling uncomfortable, I picked through the pile of sweets, noticing a few lemon flavoured soft chews.
"Hey, Tōshirō? Would you mind if I have a few of these?" I asked, holding up one of the candies. Tōshirō's eyes met mine, a softness I'd never seen in them. He held my gaze, my own expression softening into curiosity. Then he huffed and his eyes returned to their usual grumpiness as he groaned.
"It's captain Hitsugaya ." He reminded me, but it lacked its usual snappiness. I smiled, earning a tiny tug at the corners of his mouth for the briefest of moments. "Take whatever you'd like, Sakurai."
"Don't mind if I do," I teased, grabbing a couple of chocolates that Ichigo would like. "I'd hate to make this brief, but I'm supposed to meet Ichigo at Kuchiki Manor, and just wanted to stop in to say hello."
"Oh don't keep us from your date!" Rangiku cooed behind me. I immediately turned red.
"Wh- That's not- I-" She laughed at me.
"Oh please, if a guy says a girl's name like Ichigo says yours, he's totally in love with you. If you're not together, you should be! You were clinging to him like a baby koala!" Rangiku bumped her hip into mine, and in that moment, I wished for the ground to swallow me whole. Rangiku, however, sounded like a big sister who just figured out her little sister had a boyfriend. "Aw you're so cute! Puppy love is adorable!"
"Please kill me." I whispered, hoping some higher power could hear it. Rangiku didn't stop, she kept pestering me as I made it out of the office. Her rant about how it's ' natural for guys and girls to like each other' didn't stop as she opened doors for me before following. It wasn't until I'd almost left the squad 10 barracks that her voice changed its tune.
"Naomi," Rangiku's voice sobered. I paused and looked at her. The bombshell's eyes looked at the ground between us as she spoke. "About- About what he did to you. I apologize, you didn't deserve that kind of injury."
Oh, she was talking about Gin. I bit my lip, wanting to keep quiet, but the look in her eyes...
"I honestly thought he liked you, he's not usually the type to go after someone like that," she laughed humourlessly. "But I guess I didn't know him at all."
Rangiku had been very kind to me the entire time I had been here, even when I was a fugitive. She didn't deserve this, to be so sad. They must've been quite close. I wasn't entirely sure of their relationship, but from the way they had interacted, and the way she spoke whenever his name was brought up, they had something kinda romantic between them. As far as I was concerned, she could do so so sooooo much better than Gin fucking Ichimaru. But it wasn't like we got to choose who we loved, right? I looked away from her, looking to the chocolates in my hands instead.
It seemed today was all about talking out our feelings.
"It's funny. Well, not actually funny, but Aizen said something along the same lines." I thumbed at the packaging to a candy. "He said that it seemed like Gin attacked me, hoping Aizen would leave me alone, or something. Captain Unohana and her lieutenant arrived shortly after, and Aizen made it seem like Gin was hoping I'd be left behind and healed."
I looked back to her, seeing the surprise in her eyes.
"Don't get me wrong, if I get a chance, I'm returning the favour," I said, feeling the slash of the wound on my back. "But... If Gin hadn't interfered, I have no idea what Aizen would've done to me."
"Try and catch up, little ryoka."
His parting words at Sōkyoku brought a shiver up my spine. When I looked back at Rangiku, she looked a little less sad, but there was still a lingering confusion and sorrow in the corners of her eyes. She forced a smile though as we parted ways. Rangiku returned to the office, while I sniffed my way back to Kuchiki Manor.
Ichigo was already there when I arrived, sitting alone by the pond. He was looking a little restless as he stared at the koi swimming. His gaze turned to me on approach, eyes betraying how anxious he felt. It made my nerves stand on end, but I forced a smile as my hands held out some of the sweets I was holding on to.
"Ukitake gave Tōshirō a bunch of sweets, but then he said I could take some. I figured you might like these chocolates." I said in greeting. Ichigo looked surprised, his eyes going from my palms to my face again. They softened, settling a little, then he stood up.
"Thank you." He seemed reserved but took the chocolates from me. Our fingers brushed, making me shiver. Ichigo looked down at me, his eyes dilating, then he looked away from me again. I frowned minutely, then forced a neutral expression.
"So what did you want to talk about?" I asked. Ichigo stiffened, looking around. Was he worried we'd be overheard?
"Not here." He said quietly. I took a breath, then noticed his zanpakutō lying on the ground behind him. If there was anything to get that boy to talk, it would be a little spar. I looked back up to him then.
"Give me a minute." I didn't wait for his reply as I rushed into the mansion. I followed the scent of Rukia until I found her chatting with Orihime. My sprint was so fast I nearly slid past the open door.
"Rukia! Orihime!" I greeted, rushing up to them. Both girls looked stunned as I stopped short of bowling them over. "Rukia, where is my zanpakutō and shihakushō?"
I felt antsy, hoping Ichigo would wait for me. Rukia noticed the eagerness and got up from where she sat.
"Please wait here." she said calmly before disappearing down the hall. I nodded, plopping down next to Orihime. The girls had been enjoying tea. I twitched, feeling anxious, but then looked at the ginger next to me and smiled.
"Oh! Naomi, I heard you woke up! How are you feeling?" Orihime asked. I gave a shaky smile.
"I'm okay! My back's still a little sore, but I think it'll heal just fine. I heard I'm the last to wake up?" I asked curiously. Orihime nodded, looking sad.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't able to heal you and Ichigo completely. Ichigo insisted I heal you first, but his wounds were horrible and... I'm so sorry." I touched a hand to her bicep and gave her a genuine smile.
"Hey, you saved me. I was sliced up pretty good there." I assured, watching a tentative smile slip onto her lips. Orihime was always so kind, maybe she knew why Ichigo was acting weird? "Oh hey, have you noticed Ichigo acting funny?"
Orihime looked surprised.
"Huh? Well, he was really anxious to see you. Rukia kicked him out after he tried to stay in your room. He kept pacing but then she kicked him out of the house for a while. Why? Have you seen him? What's going on?" Orihime asked, almost spilling the tea set as she leaned forward towards me. I waved it off though with a half-hearted smile.
"No it's just- I think that boy's just deep in his own head again." Rukia returned with my things. I jumped up to grab them as she gestured to a side room.
"Change in there." I bolted into the room she showed me, changing in record time before stepping out fully prepared. This shihakushō had sleeves, but I would make do with it. I yanked the chopsticks from my hair and tied it up into a high ponytail to reappear in front of the girls. My bandages were visible at the very bottom of the collar of my shihakushō.
"Thanks Rukia! See you both later!" However, as I stepped towards the door, Rukia called after me.
"Naomi," I paused, looking at the black-haired girl. She gave a small smile. "Don't go too hard on him."
My eyes widened slightly, then I smirked.
"It's okay, we've got Orihime." The ginger looked between us nervously, whispers of 'what's going on?' came from her lips. Rukia looked unimpressed but I ignored it. "See ya!"
I bolted back to Ichigo, running as quickly as I could. It appeared the wound didn't sting my back the more I moved, which was nice. Seeing me fully dressed, Ichigo's eyes widened. I smirked at him, running my fingers over the handle of Espejo.
"Let's go."
Holy crap this chapter got LONG so suddenly. I mean, I didn't even intend to make it this long honestly, but the scenes just wrote themselves. Believe it or not, but this chapter ONCE AGAIN needed to be cut into two. Part 2 will be out around Friday, I think.
FYI, I'm trying to get everything up to TYBW written out before the end of May. I will be so busy in show season that I can't guarantee I'll be able to write anything. Summer is always insane, so yeah. My hope is to finish this story (or at least get a good chunk down) in the next three months, and then wait for TYBW anime to finish and write the sequel. Sequel will include some of the time skip, entire anime, some original stuff after, and the ten year epilogue.
But yeah, poor Naomi is touch starved OML. I imagined going from being freely touched and held by someone to them actively not touching you would be a very bizarre feeling. I am a person who hates touching of any kind so this chapter was funny for me to write. Finally someone voiced the obvious about Naomi's powers.
Anybody got a guess as to why Ichigo is acting funny? Next chapter is 90% Naomi and Ichigo, so we'll be getting a shit ton of fluff, promise. And some kisses maybe? Hmmmm
MesmerizingMermaid: Thank you for the stellar reviews. Honestly makes my god damn day. Yeah it's funny because even writing it I got super anxious and did a ton of review to make sure those chapters were good. It was a lot of fun to write and turned out better than I thought they would. I know Shunsui got a short little cameo in here, but rest assured he appears one more time before the end of the ryoka's visit!
Thanks for reading.
Cheers.
Iland Girl
