Ch4

Netto stared at the cat in shock, maybe he was going crazy. Cats do not usually talk after all and this cat was looking at him and talking to him like a normal person.

"Rockman you can see and hear the cat right?" He asked his navi.

"I do Netto-kun," Rockman said his voice sounding just as surprised as he was.

Well that's a relief. He stared at the cat which watched him with a curious gaze. "So what do you want?" He asked politely as he sat down on the chair next to the bed.

Yoruichi moved up to him and sat down at the side of the bed. "I was told to protect you and train you."

"Protect me from what? Who told you to help me?" He asked scratching his head.

The cat sighed. "You'll meet him soon. Anyway now that you can see hollow and spirits it is best that you be trained to deal with them."

"Like what Shinigami do with them?" he asked.

"You know of Shinigami?" Yoruichi asked raising an eyebrow.

"I met a spirit who said he was going to become one," he said looking at the mirror. "Hi name was Hitsugaya Toshiro."

The cat froze. "Captain Hitsugya eh? How interesting."

"Do you know him?" he asked. "I haven't heard from him in ages."

The cat nodded. "I have. Don't worry he is doing very well for himself. Just busy with his work."

"I see," he sighed folding his arms. "He was a smart guy wouldn't surprise me if he was doing great things."

Yoruichi nodded and eyed him up and down. "Anyway there are various things you have to know about the world Shinigami."

"That creature. That hollow why did it attack me?" he asked. The memory of that thing still sent shivers down his spine.

"Hollows can attack at random though it is possible that for some reason you caught its attention," Yoruichi said. "The point of the matter is that from now on you going to be targeted by them and must prepare to fight them. If you are willing of course."

"Of course I am," he said quickly. "But how am I supposed to fight them?"

Yoruichi stared at him the cat's gaze was unnerving. "That will be something you will discuss at a later date."

"Fine," he sighed. "So those hollows are attacking me. Will they also come after my family and friends?"

"They might," Yoruichi said with a shrug. "They can attack anyone. The problem is that they won't see them and the world will think that they died by accident or something."

"I see," he said rubbing his head. His stomach turned at the idea of a hollow attacking his family or his friends and it being written off as a freak accident. If there was a way to protect them I would. His body shivered at the memory of the hollow, if he could he would get stronger to protect himself and those he loved. "This all started when I was young."

With that he retold the story of how he was hit by a car when he was younger and how he met Toshiro and started seeing spirits. The cat nodded watching him calmly not betraying any emotions.

"Your parents do they know of your gift?" Yoruichi asked.

He shook his head. "No they don't. I stopped talking about it because they thought I was going crazy."

"Not everyone is understanding. You have a gift but it can also be a curse at times," Yoruichi said. "There are things you should keep to yourself, the world of hollow and shinigami is one of them."

"I get that," he sighed. "So what now?"

Yoruichi stood up and looked to the window. "One of my partners is here."

He turned to the window and saw a figure on the other side. A man opened the window and came out. He looked like a younger version of his father and had a white kimono and a katana at his side. His heart raced in his chest as he looked him over and the man's smiled made him want to tear up.

"Took you long enough," Yoruichi said.

The man nodded and turned to him with a smile. "Well it is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Uh thanks who are you?" he asked.

The man smiled at him. "Why don't you recognize your grandfather? I am Hikari Tadashi."

He stared at the man in shock. "Y-You are my grandfather?" Looking the man over he could see the resemblance.

The man nodded. "The one and only. Sadly I couldn't meet you when I was alive but I'm now and am continuing the work I couldn't do in life."

"The work you couldn't do in life?" he asked.

His grandfather nodded and rested his hand on the katana at his side. "You see in addition to working on the internet I also tabled in spiritual things. However, your father was too narrow minded and never believed in anything outside of science."

"Yeah that's my dad," he sighed. "He and my mom don't believe in what I see."

Tadashi nodded. "I was born with the gift to see spirits. Despite being a scientist I never kept my mind closed from the other world." His grandfather's face turned grave. "I'm now a Shinigami and help cleanse the world of evil. There is something going after your family, I believe it will kill you all."

"What do you mean?" He asked taken by shock. "Who is trying to kill us?"

"I'm not sure but I have my suspicions," Tadashi sighed as he folded his arms. "But I need to will you be willing to become a substitute Shinigami?"

"A substitute Shinigami?" He asked.

Yoruichi nodded. "It is a human who obtains the powers of a Shinigami."

Tadashi nodded. "You'll still be alive but you'll gain the power of a Shinigami." His grandfather drew one of his katanas, its blade glistened in the light. "Over the past few years I've been adding reiatsu to this sword. If wish, I can give you the power to get stronger and defend you family. So what do you say grandson?"

He stared at the glistening blade. His reflection was pale but he wasn't afraid. If a hollow attacks my again how could I defend myself let alone those that I care about? Looking up at his grandfather he nodded. "I'll do it. I want to be able to defend myself and protect those I love."

His grandfather laughed. "That's the spirit. Now stand up and close your eyes."

"Uh ok. What do I have to do?" He asked as he stood up.

"Don't worry this will only hurt for a moment," his grandfather said gripping the blade. "Close your eyes now."

He did so. His heart raced in his chest as he felt something pierce through him.

Toshiro Hitsugaya sat at his desk looking over various reports. The captain of the 10th division was busy as usual. Being a captain sure comes with a lot of paperwork. Sifting through the papers he had to look over he heard the door open.

"Oh captain," Rangiku said through the door.

He looked up at his lieutenant who had a grin on her face. "What is it Matsumoto?"

Rangiku smiled at him. "Momo wanted to see you for a moment."

He sighed. "Fine bring her in."

Rangiku quickly left and soon brought his childhood friend Hinamori Momo inside. "Hey Toshiro I just got assigned to the mortal world."

"Captain Hitsugaya," he sighed rubbing his head. Rangiku and his friend smiled at each other. "Where are you going?"

"A place can Akihara," Momo said.

"What?" He asked looking up at Momo. "Akihara?"

"Y-Yeah what about it?" Momo asked.

Netto lives there. He hadn't spoken of his friend in a long time, ever since he chose to become a Shinigami. "That's nice I've heard of that place," he sighed.

Momo and Rangiku stared at him curiously. "Well I'll get going see you around," Momo said with a smile.

"Be safe," he said. His friend smiled at him before leaving the room.

"Captain have you visited that town before?" Rangiku asked.

"No never," he said going back to his papers. It wasn't a lie but he never did talk about his mortal friend who he knew.

Rangiku frowned at him. "Captain what are you hiding?"

"Nothing," he said. To his surprise Rangiku went and grabbed the papers from his hand. "Hey what are you doing!"

Rangiku smiled at him. "Only when you tell me your secret."

He went up to his lieutenant and tried to grab the papers from her hand. But Rangiku just held them up high and he ended up running into her large chest and falling onto the ground.

"Damn it Matsumoto," he swore as he got up.

Rangiku laughed and handed him the papers. "You are so fun to tease Captain. Tell me what is going on with you."

He grabbed the papers from her hands. "Nothing just a personal matter." Going back to his seat he sat down at his desk and sighed. "I've just been thinking of an old acquaintance that's all."

His lieutenant raised an eyebrow. "Really? Could he be that friend you told me about all those years ago?"

He looked at his lieutenant and nodded. "Just thinking about him."

"Well maybe one day I can meet him," Rangiku said clapping her hands. "I wonder what your other friend is like."

He said nothing as he got back to his work. Hopefully Netto is ok. His zanpakuto spirit told him that his reiatsu was seeping into his world. That it could protect him and hurt him if he wasn't careful. Who knows maybe I can visit him again in the future.