Kazuhira was sitting on a bench at a nearby park, examining his true silver key on his palm. Joseph was now gone, and Nana, his little sister, could rest easy and focus on her career in her band. Leon had paid him the money for the job. He was silent while remembering Nana's words.
She doesn't think about the dead too much. What should be cherished above all else is how they spent time with the dead before they passed on.
He then looks at the silver key again, at Joseph, and how a tiny life can be ripped out from someone. The coldness, the panic, the fear. All coursing through those who experience death in their faces. Kazuhira has felt the experience before and wouldn't want others to endure such misfortune, but he knows it is inevitable to do so.
Such a wish is only wishful thinking on his part, but reality sometimes is as cruel as it's unforgiving. Kazuhira stood up from the bench and began walking back home. He then stumbled into a nearby dumpster and stopped in his tracks. He reminisced while staring at that dirty dumpster area where he had been left. The loneliness, the cold, and the void were felt in every bone of his body.
The last thing he remembered was the person who carried him from this dumpster was a man wearing a white haori who came to him and picked his frail body from the dumpster. He knelt down and put his hands into a praying motion. Praying to this dumpster may label you as crazy, but not to Kazuhira; this is the origin of his life and the start of the world.
After that, he continued his walk and saw several people walking towards him. It was the Salamanders and his leader, Naoya. As the two of them met eye to eye, the atmosphere changed. The Salamanders were itching for a fight, but Naoya held them back. Only his orders stopped them from coming to attack.
Kazuhira walks, and the Salamanders are ready to pounce, but Naoya still holds them back. As Kazuhira walks closer, they are now within the vicinity of each other.
"Kazuhira." Naoya spoke first.
"Nao…been a while. Your buddies seem on edge. Have you guys had your fill yet?" Kazuhira replied.
"Would you kindly move aside?" Naoya asked. The Salamanders members were still on edge, but Kazuhira seemed unfazed or even brother-gazing at the intense glare that each member was emitting.
"Sorry. I'll stand. How about you? Would you kindly move for me?" he asked back to the one-eyed man. The salamanders were now quickly more on edge than before after those words.
Both still won't move an inch from their position. The palpable feeling started to creep out one of the junior members as if he felt something was wrong with his leader and the man in front of him. Two monstrous figures trying to see who will move or back out from the other.
Naoya broke off the silence by scoffing at the constant butting of heads. He and his squad moved aside from the road, giving Kazuhira a clear path to walk in. Although some were reluctant, they could only obey their leader, who gave way to Kazuhira.
Kazuhira walks forward to the path that Naoya gave him. Naoya still looks back at Kazuhira, who pays him no mind. One of the junior members approaches him and asks him a question.
"Sir. Should we…."
"No. We don't need to make him an enemy. His status in the city is well known, and I do not like making an enemy of him again."
"Again? You fought him before, Sir?"
"You must be one of the young guns here, eh? Yeah, I fought him before. He's someone to be feared, but he no longer exudes that presence."
"So why do you move before him? You are strong enough to beat him if he falls from grace, Sir."
"We already have our fun against some hollows. No need to wail our powers when we don't need to."
The junior was still confused about why Kazuhira had such influence, even making his leader bend to his presence. Is it respect? Is it fear? These factors are acceptable parameters, but his leader's voice sounded like he admired him. So the question remains: How can a man like Kazuhira, who has fallen from grace, hold so much power?
XXX
(The Wonder Cafe)
Hanabi hummed while cleaning up the dishes on the back while Nomura swiped the tables. Nomura and Hanabi did not pay heed to the fact that the city was overrun by hollows at the time, although they noticed Kazuhira's spiritual energy combusting. They simply didn't think they should interfere. They were just enjoying their dinner together without a care in the world.
Nomura went outside to swipe the outside of his cafe. Some tables, chairs, and even the floor must be clean. Nomura was still in his world while something was moving on the road, and he only heard silence.
The screeching on the road started, but Nomura, still unaware of his surroundings, happily swiped the floor with his broom. The walls wail as a sharp object touches the surface, but Nomura pays no attention to the sound.
The entity revealed itself as hollow, resembling a deformed lizard as it used its nimble movement to strike against Nomura. The Hollow pounced behind his victim, but his movement stopped as the Hollow tried to attack. Nomura managed to grab the Hollow's face, but the Hollow made an effort to move, but to no avail.
Unbeknownst to him, another hollow was behind him again. The Hollow was more of a giant this time and howled behind Nomura, yet he was unfazed or cared. Nomura just smiled at that action.
"Do it if you can."
Nomura challenged the Hollow, ready to lift his fist using his left hand, but suddenly, it was chopped off. Confused about what had just happened, the Hollow suddenly felt stabbed from behind. The Hollow twitched in pain before the sword slash lobbed off the head.
Nomura smiled, seeing that the bothersome Hollow had been taken care of, and shifted his gaze to the Hollow, who was still trying to move away from him. Nomura tightened his grip on the Hollow's face, which cracked the Hollow's mask.
"Well then, Mr. Hollow. You're really up shit creek." His grip then crushed the Hollow's face, which the Hollow tried to scream but was cut down by a slash of a sword. A figure drops down after slashing the Hollow. The figure wore a black polo shirt and watch on his right arm, black medium-length hair with a bag covering his left eye.
"Man, the horde of hollows today is much merrier than usual. Did something happen?" the figure asked Nomura.
"Nah, just some usual hollows suddenly emerge and start ruckus again. How are you doing there, buddy?" Nomura asked another question.
"Nothing much. It has been quite some time for those cranky muscles of yours. Are you slowing down, father?"
"You sure are mouthful today, Naruki. Since when has my kid been such a rebel?" Nomura scoffed at the idea, and Naruki giggled. Naruki then sheathed his blade. His sword is a Katana with black ornament and white guard. The black scabbard on the blade has a crest, symbolizing it as a family heirloom. The crest on the scabbard is styled like a three fox encircling the moon. Although surrounded, it only reflects the moon in the water.
The cafe doors opened, and Hanabi flipped the sign to close the cafe. "Honey, I'm going to close the shop now…." Hanabi then went silent after seeing his husband, and all Naruki could do was wave at his mom upon his arrival.
Hanabi immediately went for a hug like a doting mother. "Welcome back, Naruki. My baby boy is back home."
"Mom, I was out of town for one week, and you missed me like this? It's embarrassing, though I don't dislike such a warm welcome." Naruki smiled.
"We're just closing the shop and going home. How about I make you something at home?" Hanabi suggested. It had been a while since he had tasted his mother's cooking, which was delectable for him, and who wouldn't say no to any parent's cooking?
"I would love that very much."
XXX
(Hiroshima)
(South Ward (Minami-ku)
"Ahhh. I finally finished the work that kept me from going home. The boss gave me more work than usual these days."
A middle-aged man walking after days of working overtime finally has time for his family. With a hurt back and a tired expression, he can still barely walk due to overworking, but he can see his family again after some time. He's strolling due to exhaustion from working very late.
"Hmm..?"
The man saw a convenient vending machine in front of him. He chose something to drink before going home. As usual, an office worker picks a coffee to relieve his troubles. He passed a school where the gates had been rusted and abandoned for several years. The school has been abandoned for years, and no one has done anything towards it or reopened it.
The man then sat on a bench, enjoying his cup of coffee. He looked at the money he still had left and the coins in his pocket. The man pulled out his wallet and observed the picture of his family: him, two kids, and his wife. The man heard a thump when he looked at the picture, and he suddenly felt sleepy again.
"Man, I'm getting sleepy. I wonder if the kids have already slept in bed," he said as he closed his eyes.
In actuality, the man was pierced by a long rod-like nail object to the head. The origin of the nail was behind the bushes of the bench. As confirmation of the kill, a giant arm suddenly comes out from the shadow and slowly drags the body into the woods. The man's wallet fell down to the ground, with a drop of blood covering the face of the man in the photo.
XXX
Pale or Grey: Bleach Another Story
Chapter 5
Fox Blade
XXX
Naruki woke up from his bed. His room inventory was filled with many items. Model kits, radio, and badminton racquets. Narukiwashes his face in the bathroom and goes down to the kitchen. After taking out a glass of water and a newspaper, he approaches a table and reads the paper for today.
He came across an interesting article that piqued his interest. The missing person article has been on the rise in recent years. Lost bags, jewelry, and IDs are everyday items found in missing person papers, but some are red herrings. If it were a typical kidnapping, the victim's possessions also needed to disappear to not raise suspicion.
This is different. Belongings are tattered everywhere, and nothing valuable is stolen, leading to a straightforward conclusion. A Hollow is behind this recent predicament.
"Morning." a voice says, and Naruhisa turns to see his dad has woken from his sleep. Yawning and with bags under his eyes, he washes his face on the kitchen sink.
"Hello, Father. How's your sleep?"
"Great, your mother is still in bed. Let her sleep for a little while. She's tired from working. Secondly, you wake up early."
" Yeah, I was just reading some newspapers. There are a lot of missing people. Do you think that the Hollow is involved in this?"
Nomura looked over the paper and saw what his son meant. This rise of missing individuals quickly piqued his interest as well. It could not be a coincidence. The sudden appearance of hollows and hollow nests that Kazuhira discovered could not have been random.
"Maybe. It seems that many sightings have been popping up recently. We need to keep an eye out for this. I will ask those elders about the situation in the city. It seems that there is something fishy going on."
"I hope it won't add another ramification or bad omen upon our people."
The doorbell rang as they finished talking. Naruki sighs and says, "I'll get it." He opens the door to see Kazuhira, who is already in his school uniform if you can call it that. He only wears his Sukajan and his school trousers. Naruki looks a little dejected, seeing the cheerful young lad.
"Yo, let's go to school now. We can't be late," Kazuhira said, which made the person who answered the door wonder why he was up this early.
"It's still 4 am in the morning, simpleton. Can't you tell the time of day, or are you so oblivious to things that are visible to those sockets of yours?"
"Really? I thought it was 7 am. I have nothing better to do than bother you, so I choose to bother." Smiling, Kazuhira acted like a child. Naruki could only sigh in response to Kazuhira's attitude.
"I'll get dressed. Wait for me outside, I'll entertain your boredom for now. Next time, I'll kick your ass if you come here just to bother."
"Alrighty then, Mr. Attitude. I will be more careful in the future."
XXX
"Man, school is quite boring. The teachers are too strict and too hard-core for my taste," Kazuhira implored.
"Keep such opinions to yourself. Strictness is what school is, like it or not. Your attitude sometimes makes other teachers agitated." Naruki replied while reading his book.
"Hana-chi, you are talking to the guy who once put you in the hospital. Your opinions are invalid. Boo boo."
"The hell is that to do with what we are discussing?"
Kazuhira and Naruki arrive at the school's entrance. One side is clean and spotless, while another is scrambled with graffiti and spray cans. This is Hogumura High School, a school divided into different categories of students. Some are normal and study most of the time, while others are involved in delinquency, such as this.
Hogumura was split into two buildings, east and west. The east building was cleaned and provided a safe school environment for many other students. The ex-principal tried to make Hogumura a respectable school filled with many new, fresh faces and dignified students. He rebranded the school's eastern halls for many new enrolling students, but he couldn't do so because he was enthralled by some sexual allegations with a female student. This put on hold the plans to rebrand the school entirely.
West, however, was the old Hogumura, which was filled with delinquents and other troublemakers. The teachers who studied there were either idiots or had a ball of steel to want to teach there. Female teachers are prohibited in the building, and they usually keep it to themselves. Their reputation sometimes deters new applicants because they don't want their kids to get in trouble with the West building.
Kazuhira looked around behind the graffiti wall and saw a guy who was scrubbing the graffiti off. He's wearing a baseball cap, but he still wears a school uniform with accessories and his piercing on both ears. Kazuhira smiled, seeing the person.
"Asumi, you got in trouble again?"
"Ohh, Senpai. Yes, these fresh, dull walls on the east side needed some flair, so I decided to mess with them a little." Asumi smiled with such a childish demeanor. These words made Kazuhira chuckle.
"Our west hall is not enough for you, eh? Keep up your artistic work, my man." Kazuhira smiled.
"So what's happening at school today?" Suddenly, Naruki barges into the conversation. He wanted an update on what's happening in the town and the school. Both delinquents turned to gaze at Naruki with a little hostile glare.
"Would you like to know, pretty boy?" both mock Naruki. Naruki is in the east, while Kazuhira and Asumi are in the west, so the tension between the sides is palpable.
"Come on, we're students here. Can we just get along?" Naruki asked. Asumi looked at Kazuhira who shrugged about the situation, stating that he wouldn't mind giving information to the east building student.
"Fine. Some days ago, some of our students in our school and others went missing for months. It is said that they were missing near the abandoned school at South Ward." Asumi explained.
"South Ward? Isn't that the school that closed down because of a raging fire some years ago?"
"Yeah. After the earthquake during 2003, it seems the hollows here are getting smarter and smarter for some reason. The reason why is unknown." Naruki concluded. As they contemplated the situation, they did not realize that they were caught by one of the teachers who came to them.
"You brats! You better get to class! The bell already rang. Kijou, you better clean these graffiti when the break time occurs, understand?" The teacher noticed that the three of us were talking.
"Shit, the owls saw us. Let's hang out later, Asu." Kazuhira waved goodbye and immediately went to class in the west hall. The same can be said of Naruki, who went to the east entrance. Asumi continues to paint out his scribble unwillingly.
"Hey! I saw that, Kijou. Back to work." The teacher ordered Asumi to begrudgingly swipe his work using the paint that was given.
XXX
Kazuhira stared at the blue sky, happy and content while eating his pocky. It has been rough for a couple of days. Arrancar appeared, and a hollow nest started to form, departing from spirit. Kazuhira grabs the silver key that he attained during the incident in his pocket. Joseph, the spirit that loved the sea. He wondered if the kid was happy that he had passed from the world.
He then heard the opening of the door and saw Leon, Nika, and Asumi. "Yo, how do you guys do?"
"Not much. Nika is doing fine as it is. There is no problem that may hinder your conquest, King," Nika replied, but she got a light chop on the head.
"Don't call me King or whatever. I dislike those who throw around titles like that. Leon, what the hell happened to you?" Kazuhira gazed at his friend, whose eyes were completely shut.
"I watched almost 15 episodes of this new Taiga Drama, and it was so good that it almost made me come late to school." Leon yawned from even speaking.
"You like watching that stuff? I thought old people liked that stuff." Asumi is surprised to see that his senior likes watching something that old.
"Well, it is much better than getting caught naked in public. So guys, what do you guys deduce from all of the sudden papers regarding all of the disappearances?" Kazuhira replied.
"Yeah. Nika has dispatched some of the info dealers that she had regarding that stuff." All of them turned to Nika to hear what the info dealer had to say about this issue.
"They have some leads, but they are still working on it. Nika, sure they'll come through." Nika reassures the group about it. "Rather than talking about some gloomy stuff, let's talk about something a bit positive." Kazuhira exclaimed. The three were confused about what the silver-haired was talking about.
"What? That one time you tried to make chocolate fried chicken?" Leon shoots, which makes Nika and Asumi chuckle in response.
"Yeah, laugh it off. It was truly an experiment of yours. It tastes heavenly, and you won't get any next time I cook." Kazuhira feels prouder than ever, making the three sweat drops in response.
"I tasted it. It was not delectable." Leon gave his review to the other two, which prompted Kazuhira to choke him.
"Dammit all, you are supposed to be my best friend. How dare you betray me like this."
"I didn't betray anything other than speaking facts."
Both struggled as they wrestled around the roof's floor. Nika was drinking her tea from her bottle while Asumi was drawing his piece on paper. Both knew that this was just an everyday occurrence and didn't mind the altercation.
Meanwhile, Naruki in the east was writing some class notes for him to review. Naruki finishes his note and puts the note into his bag. "Naruki-senpai!" a voice called out, and it was one of the classmates in his class. She seems tired after running for some reason.
"What is it?"
"Daichi Sensei is calling you. Says it's urgent."
"Daichi-san?"
He is one of the Cavalieri stationed in the east building. He's the one who keeps tabs on Cavalieri, who resides in this building. One was assigned to the west, but the west has more due to Cavaliri's being more independent and residing in their own territory, so convincing them to come to the briefing with their respective handlers is difficult.
XXX
"So what do you acquire of me, Daichi-san?"
Naruki was face to face with the handlers of his building, Daichi Kazaki. He wore a grey suit, had a medium build, and had a watch on his wrist. His appearance is that of an adult man: short black hair, normal-coloured eyes, and a scar on his left eye caused by one of his missions. He also wore Nike shoes.
"Oh, Naruki. I heard you were out of town doing boring stuff. Man, there was pandemonium in the city. Hollows appear left, right, and center." Daichi's expressions and words are energetic.
"I have heard about it from Kazuhira. There was the sudden rise of new and intelligent Hollows popping up. Does this mean that Hollows are starting to gain some sort of intelligence?" Naruki places his concern.
"Kazuhira also fought a Hollow-turned Arrancar as well. That kid. Always doing shit that is supposed to be handled by adults. Can't fault him, though; I would probably want to take that chance, too."
"But first things first, read this."
Daichi brought a newspaper to the school and presented it to Naruki. This paper is the same article about the missing person that Naruki read in his house. "I see. So even the higher-ups are also becoming increasingly aware of these things."
"Yeah. They asked me to give it to an able Cavalieri, so my first thought came to you." Daichi smiles.
"For a guy who lazily works at desk jobs, you know how to grovel well." Naruki snickered, hoping for a reaction from the teacher. Daichi only chuckled towards the response.
"It will be done, Daichi-san. Our duty as a Cavalieri is to help any soul bound into this earth."
"Good luck. I need to finish up other documents I haven't done yet. I will pray for your success." Daichi smiles and leaves Naruki to his pretenses. Naruki looks at the names of the missing and quickly clenches the paper. This Hollow won't get any mercy from him. He will guarantee it.
XXX
(South Ward (Minami-ku)
Naruki Shima, 18 years old.
He is one of the gifted talents in the Cavalieri that many sought after. His talents were recognized by the higher-ups in the region. The prominent history of the Shima Clan can also be traced back to the root of a small clan with the same name that aided the Mori clan of the Chugoku domain as vassals to them. The Shima helped the Cavalieri in terms of political and strategic maneuvers for Mori and were in debt to the Mori, which helped restore their small territorial fiefs.
Now, the Shima declined after the end of the Sengoku period and was under the new management of another clan. Now, they are a small family that owns a cafe in modern times. Naruki never thought much about the past but as a duty to uphold his family name.
After the final school hours ended, Naruki walked into the area of interest. The interaction of people and the liveliness of the town. This is what years of servitude have come into; the peace his ancestors have created is in his eyes. He now must protect it as long as it can.
He arrived at the abandoned school. He looks at the school, sensing the aura it emits from the outside. Looking around the area, he smelled the stench of blood coming from inside. He is prepared and enters the abandoned school.
He enters the abandoned school, and the atmosphere is quiet, with nothing out of the ordinary so far. He continues to venture inside the school, and silence, the rays of the moon, and the steps emitting from his feet drown the thoughts of the young Shima. He looks around, looking for survivors, even though he finds it impossible to find survivors.
As Naruki entered a classroom, he saw many objects laid down like pyramids in the center: phones, suitcases, clothes, and shoes of any shape. Shima approached the pyramids with great caution, preparing his Katana. He pushed the pyramid using his sheathed Katana, and the objects fell to the side.
He expected the beast that caused so many people in front of him to lie about the things that he had killed, but that was not the case. Naruki sighed as he thought he would face the dragon of the lair and defeat him swiftly. Naruki looks down and unsheathes his blade for inspection. The blade's reflection shows that something is hanging on the ceiling.
A chameleon-like hollow used camouflage on top of the ceiling, leaping behind Naruki. Naruki, informed by looking at the reflection, his blade quickly slices the left hand. The pain surges as the monster winces in pain. He uses his mimicry attribute to hide himself once more and leaves the room.
"How did you notice me? I thought I hid myself clearly. Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!" His sounds echo around the place, showing ever-growing frustration in his tone.
"You reeked of blood, and you stink also. It's obvious I can detect you so easily." Naruki said. He observed his blade, checking to see if anything had been chipped when he had slashed the Hollow just now. He didn't find any, and if this sword had been chipped that quickly, it would be such a shame.
"Impudent boy, I'll make sure to slurp all of your energy when I kill you."
Naruki just grins from hearing such threats, swiping the blood to the side as he kicks the door down. Smiling as he goes, he approaches the darkness of the abandoned school with vigor and intent to eradicate it. The sick game of hide and seek has now come to fruition.
XXX
"Things likely last forever. In mind and in soul. One must be in tune with those facts to find meaning in their lives."
Next Chapter
Fox Blade: Redux Compilation
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