Memories of a Shinigami (BLEACH Club Members only)

[Evangel]

Mugen and Rei left the cafeteria after eating some food. He felt nervous and impatient for the tests to end. She felt confident and excited for the tests to begin. Two lovers with almost opposite personalities. The walked side by side down the hallway towards the classes where their tests would be held. Both of them walked quiet until Rei broke the silence.

"Hey Mugen, what tests do you have first?" She said.

Mugen stops to reach into his kimono. He pulled out an object from the inside of his kimono. It was a small piece of paper. It had which test Mugen had, the times, and rooms where they would be held. It was given to him the day before by an upperclassman.

"Let's see, according to this I have 'Swordsmanship' first, then Shunpo and then Kidou. After Kidou I have a break to eat then I have Hakuda, 'History of Soul Society' and then finally 'Nature of the Zanpakuto'."

"Mine's totally different, that sucks." She replied. "Oh well, maybe it's for our own good, eh?"

Mugen nods his head and then continues down the hallway. A multitude of thoughts run through his mind. He wonders what will happen if he passes, if he fails, if he makes a mistake and kills someone or, God forbid, dies himself. It feels like a second goes by when they reach the room where he will take his first test.

"Well, this is it, Mugen. Good luck!" Rei says as she turns to go to her own test. Mugen grabs her by her arm and pulls her back to him. Hold her in his arms, and says: "Rei, will you marry me?" Completely caught off-guard, Rei has no response. "I...um...I...Can...Can we talk about this later?" She stammers as she talks. Mugen nods his head and kisses her. She turns and runs off blushing. Refreshed with confidence, Mugen enters the test room.
He joins the line-up of other students. He was in the third line-up. Apparently, when it is your turn, you would step out in front of the class, and spar with the instructor. You are only required to perform basic techniques.

Match after match, Mugen watches as the test ensues. Some of the fights were short, some were long. After each match, the teacher would give the combatants their own grade. It finally came to Mugen's own match. The teacher calls out him. Mugen steps up, nervous on the inside but stoic on the outside.

They each took their stances. His instructor was using the generic stance that each of them taught, a well balanced stance. Mugen's was rigid and better for fiercer attacking but poor in defense. At the word of the instructor, Mugen and the teacher clashed swords. Mugen forced his opponent into a defensive position and attacked relentlessly with vertical slashes. He pushed him back with every swing. But the teacher comes up with a counter and puts Mugen in his own defensive position. The teacher backed him into a corner and he nearly panicked. Mugen swung his sword upwards from his lower side and forced the teacher’s practice sword above his head. Swiftly, Mugen moved his sword to his chest and held it. Panting, Mugen lowers his sword at the sign of the instructor.

"The winner is: Mugen Tsukiakari!" Cried out the instructor. The surrounding classmen clapped. The instructor shook his hand as he did with everyone. "Mr. Tsukiakari, great job. You'd make an excelent Division 11 member. I'll give you an 'A'. You may leave for your next test. Good luck."

As he was excused, Mugen and the teacher bowed in respect and left. Mugen's next test was Shunpo, his weak point. The classroom wasn't very far and he arrived shortly. The room was the same one he and the other students used every day. Like the Swordsmanship test, the instructor lined up the students. Unlike the Swordsmanship test, due to the nature of the test, it took much shorter . It took longer for the teacher to reach Mugen, but she eventually did.

"Now, Mr... Tsukiakari, it's your turn". She leads him to a line where she have him stands totally still. From the line, other lines mark every foot to the other side of the room. "The test requires you to do a standing Flash Step from the point were you are now. You will be graded on the total of two Flash Steps. You may begin when ready."

Mugen inhales. He focuses his spiritual energy to his feet. When he felt ready, Mugen performed the Flash Step. The teacher jots something down on her evaluation papers. Mugen then performs the Flash Step again. The teacher again jots something down on her evaluation papers.

"Well, Mr Tsukiakari, your efforts were *ahem* adequate at best. You had an average total of 13 feet. Poor, but, you still pass my test, congratulations. Good luck on your final exams. You are dismissed."

[Sinister]

Haku brushed the wanton icy locks of his hair from his face. The bed was warm. He felt the room move. Though the hangover made his vision wobble, the sobriety brought all of his fractured memories of last night back in layers. Mikio was left, broken and beaten. Haku’s hungover face smiled, evily. Mikio’s torment was just beginning. Last night brought it to him that he couldn’t leave the Rukongai without resolving some key issues. Key Issues…

It was last night… Haku had come back in from breaking Mikio down. Tetsuo, his drinking partner, was still conscious. He was nursing some sake. Maybe it was just luck, but Tetsuo felt like bragging. He was a judge. A judge in the Rukongai council. A Judge… He also felt compelled to tell Haku how much money he had made from bribes. It brought a grin to Haku’s face to remember Tatsuo telling him he had kept it all in a trunk in his house.

Having remembered all of this, Haku swept up from the bed, grabbing his kimono, slipping it on and belting it. He slipped his bamboo zori sandals on and was out the door. ‘A judge.’ He thought, with a grin.

It was perhaps an hour before he could track down the honorable Tetsuo Genki-sama. The skinny scarecrow man with thick bushy black eyebrows and a shriveled head. His black hair was receding, the remaining hair was bundled up into a ponytail.

At seeing Haku, his right bushy eyebrow raised. “Can I help you, sir?” He said, trying to intimate that he wished no more association with Haku. Haku kept his composure, just letting a small smirk slip.

“You don’t remember me then? I suppose that makes things more convenient.”

“I’m sorry, I’m a busy man. So if there is nothing else I’m afraid you'll have to excuse me.” Haku clicked his tongue, chidingly.

“I’m afraid I’ll need your complete attention. Perhaps I could bribe you for a few moments of your time? I understand that is the custom in dealing with you.” Haku laughed, evily.

*********

Hours later, after hard work, the both of them produced a document. It was official, bristling with Rukongai red tape. It’s inky pulp smelled so very final. It stated simply in certain terms that:

A Haku Ishikawa was found murdered on the former date from the printing of this document. Honorable Tetsuo Hiroshi-sama, holding judge of the Rukongai council, witnessed said murder and confirms a one Mikio Goto as the person responsible. This decree serves also as a warrant and bounty for Mikio Goto. Bounty specifics will be forthcoming.

Haku rubbed the paper between his thumb and forefinger. It felt like freedom. All of his possesions would go to Akane. Mikio would be either put away or hunted for the rest of his life. His ties to Akane would finally be severed. The little possessions he had and all of his money was severance pay to her, his greatest friend so far. But the greatest achievement was that the two men Akane thought so much of will disappear in front of her own eyes.

Key Issues dealt with, time to move on and besides who better to be a Shinigami than a man who is double-dead. No more key issues or distractions. It’s time to register for the Shinigami academy and become a student.

This final move of grace on the Rukongai that had tortured him for near ten years felt so very good. It made his insides jump for joy, it made his face hurt from grinning so much. And more important, it made him able to forget all of it. ALL of it...

[Andromeda]

The morning woke slowly over the horizon waking everyone to a new week. For some the tests were done and they could begin classes while others had to wait. It left an air of excitement through the halls seeing the eager expressions across the new students ready to begin their path to becoming shinigami. Everyone was hurrying along to classes, but beneath them all Steph slowly walked at his leisure.

For him there was nothing to do as he had a failed and was forced to wait a year until they would accept him to try again. He had been offered the room to stay in until the next time he would be taking the test, but staying in one place for a year with little purpose did not suit him. Steph was still not sure what he was going to do, that was what the stroll was meant to do for him.

He found his way to a familiar courtyard for him to rest at and let him take in the morning air. His hands smoothed out his clothes as he set himself down to the grass lying back with his hands folded together to prop up his head. There were too few clouds this morning for him to enjoy leaving him to close his eyes and let time pass.

Time crawled away from him barely keeping a sense of its passage until he was stirred awake by a large hand. He slowly opened his eyes to find the shinigami that had sponsored him standing over top of him. Steph was not sure what the man wanted, but there was purpose in his eyes. “Hello…it’s been a week.”

“Yes, your week of testing is over and I got your results,” he said holding several papers in his hands shaking them lightly at him. It was difficult to read disappointment in his face, but Steph assumed that he was not pleased.

The results did not mean much to him since he really knew before he took any of his other tests. It was already decided from the swordsmanship test that he failed. ‘What does he want with me? He here punish me or something?’

The shinigami remained quiet for a minute longer looking like he was expecting Steph to say something. “Nothing to say?”

“I failed, there is not much more to say. Sorry for disappointing you.”

“Hardly, I actually didn’t really think you would pass with as little spiritual energy as you have.” He tucked away the papers in his uniform and knelt down to Steph’s level looking him in the eye. “I heard some of the rumors around you. You’ve made quite the impression for failing.”

Steph looked at him with a tilted head not too sure what he was getting at with this approach. He was not sure if he was being insulted or praised by the man, but he hardly knew him. It did not really matter to him that much if the man liked him or not. The only thing that he was concerned with having to go back and do more tests like the week before. “Rumors?”

The shinigami nodded back to him quickly looking a little pleased making Steph feel uncomfortable. “They are saying that the little kid that couldn’t do anything blew up on an instructor. They’re saying that you’re stronger than you look.” He leaned in staring intently at Steph as though seeking something that could only be seen. A moment later he pulled back looking no different than before.

Steph crawled back a few paces confused and unnerved by the odd manner that the shinigami was looking at him. The way he made it sound it seemed that he did not really believe the rumors and wanted to know if they were true or not. “I don’t know, I didn’t give it too much thought. I just wanted to prove them wrong.” Steph stood up after a short silence looking at the shinigami forced to tilt his head up roughly. He was honest, but he had the feeling that the shinigami was thinking something.

“I see. It is difficult to tell, but I can sense a little spirit energy leaking out of you. While most untrained would randomly be leaking amounts of spirit energy, it is different in your case. It is highly compressed as though focused from centuries of training, but you have so very little. The small bit that you leak would hardly affect anyone adversely unless you stayed around them at extreme proximity for a long period of time. You are a paradox, little spirit energy, but a high spirit pressure. It doesn’t make much sense.”

During the explanation Steph yawned softly rubbing his eyes not paying attention too closely to what the shinigami was telling him. After the first sentence or two he got confused and it only became more confusing the longer the man went all. ‘I don’t think I like that look in his eye,’ Steph thought to himself seeing how the shinigami seemed to light up while talking about Steph’s oddities.

“If you aren’t busy I’d like to take some measurements to chart your progress for science,” the shinigami said leaning a little starting to glow with a curious smile across his face.

“That’s alright. I think I need to be going anyway.” Steph stepped backwards turning on his right foot to begin running away as quickly as his legs could carry him.

The shinigami shifted around smoothly coming in front of Steph seemingly out of nowhere. “You can’t ignore science. Besides I sponsored you. You’re here because of me.”

Back stepping was his only course of action, but even that was not enough. Steph was cornered by the shinigami before he even had a chance to escape. It did not occur to him that he was trying to out flank a shinigami and he was simply an untrained citizen of the Soul Society. ‘I didn’t even care about being a shinigami. I’m only here because you wanted me to be.’ The shinigami pressed him with only his presence making him walk backwards even more until Steph felt the wall at the end of the courtyard creep up on him. “Fine…”

“Good! Now let’s go!” the shinigami said suddenly grabbing his arm and dragging him down the halls at a blinding speed. He nearly passed out as fear slowly built up in him about what he was going to have to do this time. Steph’s mind faded in and out not really knowing what was happening anymore to him. As the time passed numerous tests and experiments were ran on him in his unresponsive state lying on the metal table. The cold that clawed through his clothes did not even make him shiver.

After a length of time that Steph could not determine he had found himself in one of the hallways of the academy with drool slowly pouring out of his mouth. Once his eyes were opened and he realized his surroundings he jerked up straight quickly looking around trying to recall what he had been doing. Searching the halls did not tell him anything other than he was losing a part of his memory. It took a few moments, but the wet moist feeling of his uniform at his collarbone made him look down to find it partially soaked. He wiped his chin taking the next minute to figure out how it happened.

Steph rubbed his hair feeling drowsy still from whatever happened to him. ‘I remember going for walk…then what? Gah, I can’t remember…’ He stood up forced to place his hand against the wall for support and began carefully walking down a random hall, his mind still not clear. After a few feet or hallways, distance did not really seem to add up to him clearly, there was a voice from behind him.

“Steph? You feeling alright?”

A slow turn of his head with an almost deathly look on his face showed the voice to belong to Kagashi. “Kagashi…don’t you have class?” Steph did not know what time it was with no windows or doorways found yet. He slowly turned leaning heavily on the wall still feeling like there was a fog around his head.

Kagashi walked up to Steph quickly kneeing down to look at him straight. “Class, what are you talking about? It’s night. We finished a while ago. When you weren’t in the room I became a little concerned since no one had seen you all day.” The classes had been a little slow today for him since they were getting acclimated to their new life. There were some instructors that were a little harder of them to get them working while others took a more laid back approach. However, the way that Steph looked worried him more than that right now. He looked like he had been drugged up if he had to guess. “What happened to you?”

Steph felt his legs give out suddenly dropping in to the floor roughly as Kagashi attempted to catch him in time, though futile. Any memories that he had were not coming to him, but he was certain that something happened. He was not sure what occurred in the time that he had lost, but it felt important. “I don’t know…I-I went out in the morning and woke up here. I-I can’t remember.”

“You don’t look so good. Let’s get you back to the room. Some rest should do you good.” Kagashi was not sure what had happened to Steph, but it was obvious enough that he could not leave him on his own at the moment. He turned around giving him his back and putting his arms out behind him trying to motion to Steph that he was going to carry him back.

Reservations could not hold him back as his body almost seemed to act on its own sliding himself against Kagashi’s back leaning his head over Kagashi’s shoulder with a rather pitiful and cute exhausted expression. Kagashi’s arms knitted together supporting him from falling down as he stood up carefully leaning forward enough to keep Steph on him. The two slowly walked through the hall until they reached a window looking out to the night sky.

“It is night…” Steph said weakling through half opened eyes.

“Yes…say Steph.”

“Hmm?”

Kagashi paused for a moment turning towards the window letting his gaze be captured by the view. “You sure about this? You don’t have to leave.”

“I made my decision. This week showed me that there is something inside me I didn’t realize. I need to sort that out before I can feel ready to be around here.”

“There are plenty of instructors and even the shinigami that can help you.” Kagashi knew what he saw during the tests was not the same Steph. It was probably a scary thing to comprehend. ‘All this time he thought that he was normal and now to see what you are truly capable of doing.’ He resumed his walk holding Steph realizing that he should not be keeping Steph out.

“This is something I need to do alone. I don’t know what it is, but I’m certain of that. Don’t worry I’ll be back for the tests next year without fail.” The dreams that he was having were becoming more common since he entered this place. While he had had them before they were nowhere near as vivid as they turned. He needed time to understand what it meant and who that woman was in his dream. She seemed to be important and know him, but it was only his dream it would only make sense she knew him. It still did not sit well with him.

‘I’m not going to be able to stop him. Why do I feel like I have to stop him? I hardly knew him until this week. What’s going on with me?’ Kagashi remained quiet for the rest of the walk back to their dorm. In the silence Steph had fallen asleep again. He placed him in his bed without waking him letting him peacefully continue his sleep.

When morning came Kagashi grudgingly pushed his covers away looking around the room. He looked over to Steph’s bed to check on him only to find it empty. Kagashi rushed over to the bed making sure that he was not imagining things, but it was as he had seen. The bed was made neatly and no sign of Steph. He had left his uniform behind in the dresser taking his old clothes with him. “He’s gone…”

[Sinister]

Haku was reclining relaxed on his bed, his arms folded behind him. Incapable of sleep, his mind exhausted itself on eventualities and contingencies, spiraling in circles, chasing it's own tail with no sound resolution.

If he had been thinking aloud then his thoughts would be heard to this effect:
'There is a 24/240,000,000,000 chance that I'll meet anyone I know, but I can't rely on an estimation of a probability whose direct influences and variables elude me. Also not to use a system of figures that is long past it's realm of supposed influence. If I do chance to meet someone that I know there is a 3/8 chance that it will not affect my studies and endeavors here, leaving me a 5/8 chance that it will…' And it went on in this fashion.

So when the door to the dormitory opened and a distantly familiar form darkened the doorway, Haku's muscles tightened. 'The spikey blonde hair, Karakura Town. I don't believe it…' Haku straigtened up in the bed, unsure of what to do. 'Kasuma Zenoah. Three years my senior.' He recalled, glumly.

Zeno walked in and gave a dismissive wave towards Haku, then a pause. It occurred to Haku at this moment that he might not be remembered. But when Zeno gave a suspicious turn and look.

"Who're you!" He demanded.

Haku smoothed himself out and stood, stretching himself to his full six feet.
"Hello. I'm your new roomie. Kuishi Sato. Pleased to meet you!" He said, making his most friendly and kawaii face. The effect seemed immediate. Zeno stepped forward and offered his hand. Haku took it and noted the firm grip. But it was stepping closer that caused Zeno's face to grow even more suspicious.

"I know you!" He shouted. "Mt. Fuji! You were younger and in a different class, but I know you!"

Haku backed off and made a calming gesture.

"Yes." He hissed. "My real name is Haku Ishikawa. I was there on Mt. Fuji. Please don't tell anyone my real name!"

"Don't worry." Zeno muttered, walking over and leaping on his bed. "You're secret is safe with me."

It was that night, with various misgivings that Haku was finally able to rest his mind, the worst possible scenario already setting in motion he no longer needed to worry about it.

******************

Haku stood in queue for morning Swordsmanship training, patiently watching each participant in the lessons. There were precisely five more in front of him. He was confident that by then he would have mapped out the perfect techniques and movements that the instructor was requiring. He already had enough information by watching the first two, to make a respectable enough attempt.

The woman in front of him was a dark tan. Her face was that of an Indian Emperess, her poise was regal, her motions glided like the fluid ease of water. Haku watched her intensely. 'Be careful.' He warned himself. 'Her execution of these simple motions with that wooden sword will be like a master musician playing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" on a grass harp.' He thought.

The next four, Haku noted with meager interest, preferring to study this prodigy's inherent grace. He tried to imitate her actions as he advanced in line, applying the smooth, yet direct flourishes, to his casual actions.

Finally it was her turn. The instructor called out her name, not bothering to consult the list that he had been calling names from. "Mahonna Kuiki." She stepped forward with her wooden sword; bearing it with a definite tempo and grace. It was perfectly evident to Haku now. 'This is no human, nor had she ever been one. She was born and raised in this place and I wouldn't be surprised if she had trained to enter this academy her whole life.'

The instructor assumed a defensive stance and gave the signal. What followed was so spectacular that everyone gasped and backed away. The instructor had to struggle to intercept. Her moves were blinding crescendos of perfect speed. She had combined the three practice moves into what seemed, at first glance, a single action.

Her entire presence here was an imposture, there was nothing that she could learn in the next two weeks so far as swordsmanship was concerned. Haku had an unassuming grin on his face as all the students felt compelled to applaud. A tear glistened in the instructor's eyes as if he had just beheld some brilliant light that was not meant for mere eyes.

Mahonna, then turned and bowed before the students and returned to the end of the line. Her face was the picture of boredom and disinterest.

"And that is what every Soul Reaper should aspire to!" The instructor announced, neglecting to chastise Mahonna-san for her obvious showboating.

Haku was proud of himself, he kept his smugness from his features.
The instructor had to retrieve his clipboard and search out the next name.

"Kuishi Sato."

Haku stepped forward. He felt the soft-sanded wood grain about the grip of his sword. His fingers made a careful check of the grip, testing the area of it's maximum leverage, feeling the tiny microchasms in the wood rub against the prints of his fingers. The information was received, duly noted and stored for later reference.

In life, Haku had some training that may not have been standard with too many children. Not that he cared to remember it, as he had swore off memories. But the neural pathways were still there, and Kuiki-samasan had just updated it for him.

He spun the wooden sword, flipped it up, caught it and passed it between hands, the very breeze of the motion was immense, and the motion was too fast to follow. No appreciative gasps were uttered. He turned his own metaphorical composition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" into an opera. And in three fanning spins, one thrust and draw slash combined with a retreating motion, he had finished.

The succession of knocks against the teacher's wooden weapon were so contiguous that only one knock was heard. The room was silent. The teacher had not moved his sword to block the attacks, Haku had aimed at the blade so as not to actually engage their instructor. The instructor did his greatest to downplay the entire event and chose not to say anything, but there were whispers.

Walking back to the end of the line, Haku smiled politely at the gaping expressions until he saw Mahonna. Haku made an absolute lifetime trait of reading motions, body language and expressions. If Mahonna could get away with murder at the moment she wouldn't have to even think about it. Her expression was pure mastered fury.

She approached him and gave a shallow bow, or more accurately, a nod. Haku bowed genuinely. He didn't wish for her to dislike him at the moment. It would be inconvenient, still Haku also had to serve his ego.

"Have we met?" She asked, trying her best not to speak through clenched teeth or sound angry.

Haku smiled modestly, using his brow to seem appologetic and sympathetic. "If only that were so, but I am new here and I have a good memory for such memorable faces."

She seemed not to expect genuine politeness and it took her a while before she could formulate a response.

"You obviously have had some excellent training wherever you're from. It seems I have some competition."

Inwardly, Haku sighed with relief. 'She is being honest about the obvious tension between us, that indicates some mutual respect in formation. Now is the tricky part, I've got to downplay what just happened without seeming pretentious. The big questions is: is she really better than me? If she is, I can be honest and tell her that was my best try. If she can't achieve what I just did, then there is no right answer.'

"Then I welcome the competition." He said, still smiling. "But I warn you that what you saw was my very best."

'She smiled, slightly.' Haku could read it. 'She is pleased, she must know that she could do much better. If I stay near her, I can learn her tricks.'

"I hope I can keep up." She said, wryly.

'She really is a very unpleasant person.' He thought, still a smile on his face.

*****************

Haku kneeled at a table, alone. On the table was a small portion of Mandarin salad and a cup of tea. 'I have to restrict my food intake. I can't expend energy on digestion when so many things require my mental powers instead.' He picked up the tea and breathed in, trying to keep in the tea ritual, he sighed and sipped it. 'Besides, mother always said…' He stopped and sat the cup down, disappointed that he had not mastered the repression of his memories. He pinched a leaf of lettuce covered with the peanut sauce in between his chopsticks and ate it, carefully. 'A full mongoose is a slow mongoose.'

Haku had just began to relax. He looked around, suspiciously. Kuishi Sato worked well here. On the surface, there were just few enough surfaces to be convincing as 'normal'.

His eyes suspiciously drifted over the crowd of people, constantly in fear of seeing a familiar face. He swallowed some tea and chewed some salad, but for once in his life he was not terribly hungry. The effect of a guilty stomach, possibly...

[Victoria]

The light of the sun tempered against my closed eye, forcing me to squint and sit up just in time for my alarm to go off. I looked around the room and took in the same old scenery that I lived in for the past few months. The dreary, plain color of white. There needed to be some color in this room or I would go insane.

I licked my lips and formed a smirk as my eye laid upon Haruka. Oooh, I love how she looks when she sleeps. Too bad I have to wake her up soon.. the sleepyhead.

I let out a reluctant sigh and thought of slipping into Haruka's bed and sleeping with her, but I would never hear the end of it from the intruding voice in my head that is my sister. I leaned down to her and smiled as my cheeks flushed. I ran a finger through my hair and slid my bang behind my ear. She was so close to me that her scent filled my nose. A mix of flowers and spice ran through my senses and I stifled a shudder. I bit my lower lip and leaned into her ear and whispered to her sleeping state.

“...When will you ever admit your love for me, hm?” I held back a seductive giggle and kissed her lobe gently and walked off into the bathroom, my nightgown falling to the floor on the way.

I stepped out of the shower all nice and wet, and dried myself off and wrapped tape around my breasts and shrugged on my uniform and tied the wrap around my waist. I looked in the mirror and brushed my hair and applied a thin layer of gloss on my lips. I nodded to myself and stepped out and still saw Haruka knocked out on her bed, in her drooling glory no less.

One of her legs crept over the side of the bed and her right hand sloppily placed itself over her abdomen. I smiled to myself and shook my head. One foot in front of the other, I walked to the side of her bed and sat down by her. I ran my fingers through her luscious hair and around the back of her neck.

“Haru-chan,” I said in a slight raised voice. Though I should've known better that this alone wouldn't have woken her up.

“Haru-chan!” I exclaimed. I heard a grumble and she rolled over and ignored me. Letting out a sigh once more, I leaned over her body, my breasts making an impression into her side.

“Haru-CHAN! Wake up this instant, missy!” I scolded as I leaned as close as I could to her face.

“Bite me.” Haru responded. Don't you tempt me, girl. You know full well how much I want you. I'll do it, too. I bit my lip and leaned closer to the ear I kissed earlier, and was close enough to bite her lobe. She shot up in a quick haze.

“Happy now Mai?” she exclaimed frantically.

“Mmm, almost.” I replied with an ulterior motive hidden with a playful smile at my lips. I'll be happy today if you kiss me, but I know that's just wishful thinking.

Haruka was ready to go back to sleep, but I puffed and scolded her, emphasizing that she would have to skip a shower. That seemed to get her into movement. I looked at Haruka's haphazard hairstyle and giggled. “Hair,” I said.

This caused her to remember about her hair and she stepped into the bathroom and adjusted her hair into pigtails. While she was occupied, I glanced over at our other roommate that called herself Junko. She still snored as if she didn't care about the afterlife. As far as I was concerned, she could sleep past all of her classes. I still haven't really forgiven her for her attitude when we first met.

Haruka seemed to notice my glance at Junko, and she inquired that if I was going to wake her up as well. I shook my head with a scoff.

During breakfast, Haruka and I found ourselves a table alone with someone my sister had met before. His eyes briefly met my own as we sat across from him in the cafeteria. I couldn't wait to bite into my syrupy waffles.

The two began to converse as I peered around the cafeteria, taking in the daily scenery of the other students chowing down on their choice of food. The bustling noise of students chattering to each other about the latest gossip and who was on their hot or not list. To no surprise, I hear my sister's name said occasionally as some sort of bad ass bitch, and others say she's some sort of goddess. They have no idea.

Though sometimes I wonder what she does that makes her stand out against me. I suppose her talents have something to do with it, as I've nothing that I'm particularly spectacular at, unless you count blackmailing people and war tactics. Though I have yet to show my tactics prowess because we're simply in a school environment. Unless a war broke out at school, I would continue to be the devious girl that blackmails and seduces people to get what she wants. Maybe that's why they don't talk about me. They're afraid that I'll blackmail them. Yeah, r-i-i-ight.

I let out a sigh and glance at Haruka as she continues to converse with Tamashi. She seemed to get the impression that I was uncomfortable being left out of the loop, so she changed the topic and asked me how I thought I would do in my classes. I smiled as my heart fluttered because she was concerned about my well being.

We each answered the topic and the bell rang soon after. Haruka and I cleaned up after ourselves and walked silently towards our classes. It was sad seeing her go off on her own, but I had to deal with it. I couldn't be with her every second of every day. I wasn't her lover or anything. ....Yet.

Tamashi walked behind me to our hand to hand class. That's right, we have the same class together. Too bad I'll only be there for an hour. My sister was just too talented and had prior experience to be put in class C, so she had been placed in Class A. If there were an S, she'd be in it.

Thankfully the A and C classes for Hand to Hand weren't too far away from each other. As my thoughts wandered about how my class would be run and what would be the criteria, the last bell rang for the class to begin. The room was spacious and was floored with tatami mats. Pillows had been in place instead of desks, and the students sat in their spots. I sat next to Tamashi, as he was the only one I knew in the class. There was Kagashi as well, but I didn't know him very well, and quite frankly I didn't really care to. Something about him rubbed me the wrong way. But I'm a good girl, I can feign politeness if I need to.

The hour went by fairly quickly, though I absorbed everything the instructor lectured on with much intent on catching up to Shino. Tamashi yawned throughout the class, but somehow memorized everything as well. I had a feeling he should be in the B class, but sometimes my judge of character isn't exactly accurate. Everyone else stayed in the class, but I was an exception because there are two people in this one body. I let out a sigh and placed my fingers upon my eyepatch and let out a shudder as I became the voice inside Shino's head. It was weird not being able to see anything, but being able to still hear what Shino says, and feel everything she experiences.

~~~~~~*****~~~~~

I cracked my neck and twisted my torso and did all the other usual stretches before I began training. When I raised my arms above my head to stretch, I felt the tape that Mai had strapped on my breasts become slightly loose. It was still tolerable for me and would most likely last throughout the rest of the day. If my breasts popped out while in my hand to hand class, that would not only interrupt my personal flow, but would make it harder for me to move around unhindered. I still have not gotten used to Mai's cow breasts. I don't know how she puts up with breasts of such a large size. You can't possibly move with your maximum potential with these fat bags dragging you down. Then I remember the shinigami we met before we died. She had large breasts similar to Mai's and she moved gracefully as if they had not existed. So perhaps it was possible for some people to bypass the feeling of large breasts.

I walked alone to the class A room of Hand to Hand. It felt weird being the only one around in such a large hallway filled with white. And more white. I finally reached the door and not to my surprise, already found the class in session. I don't get to be tardy because of my special condition with my sister. I once again twisted my torso and stretched my back.

My classmates had already sparred with each other by the time I walked in. One person was without a partner, obviously. Because I was that person. The instructor was a fine looking gentleman who had battle scars over his arms and one over each eye. I wanted to chat with him about where he had gotten his scars from, but it was class time and there wasn't time for such pleasantries. He had walked up to me and filled me in on the first hour of class and what I had missed. I nodded in comprehension, and walked off to spar with my partner. My partner had a semi-lanky build, but from my experience, I learned never to underestimate your opponent. His red haphazard hair flowed all over the place and his blue eyes met mine. He nodded at me as a form of hello.

“Sup?” he said as he cracked his neck and got into the battle stance the instructor had noted to do earlier. They were all learning a specific style. Karate, if I remember correctly. The instructor knew I had my own style beforehand and he said I could use that if I wanted to. Would be a good experience for the students, he said.

I shrugged, “Nothin' much. Sorry to keep ya waitin'.”

“Don't worry about it,” he bowed and came at me as an element of surprise. I wasn't taken aback, though. As a force of habit, I pretended to get struck by his chop to my chest. I added my own momentum as I fell backwards and lifted my right foot and connected to his chin. My body hit the ground and I kicked up and landed on my feet fluidly. His chop felt like a poke to me, but I didn't want him to know that. My attack took him off guard and he stumbled back.

He shook the cobwebs from his face and rubbed his chin and glared at me, as if contemplating what to do next. I knew of Karate and the types of attacks they normally did, so whatever he did I would be ready for it. Besides, that bastard Nagi was a much better fighter. I would give anything to have another bout with him again.

The tune of Wagner's Riding of the Valkyries flowed through my head as I hummed the tune. This action caused him to raise a brow. Perhaps he thought I was going crazy or became bored. Neither was the case at this point in time. Okay, so I lied.

He gave a running start and leaped into the air. As if I didn't see that coming. He brought out his leg and aimed directly for my head. I just stared at him and smiled as I leaned to the side, brought out my hand and gripped his ankle tightly by his socks and tossed him hard into the ground. I hope I didn't knock him out.

Sure enough, he groaned and I heard a curse through his mumbled breath. He had a hard time regaining his balance. He managed to get to his feet, but his knees were liquid and he shook a lot.

The instructor took special interest in our spar. Or what was supposed to be a spar, anyway. This was pathetic. I wasn't getting any training in and wasn't very amused beating a novice to a pulp. However, my partner had a different thought process. He looked to be getting very annoyed at my skill level. It's not my fault I have prior combat experience. Before the guy's knees could collapse, the instructor held him up and grinned at me.

“I'll bet you're thinking that you shouldn't be in this class. Well, as you know, A is the highest rank there is; and I can't have you wandering around the halls. So I propose this:” he gently escorted my sparring partner to the medic that had came in at the request of sensei. I walked with them of course.

“My sister could just take the two hours while I do nothing...” I rebuked.

“That is true, but wouldn't you feel that your talents are deteriorating? Any warrior would feel that.”

He knew me well. As well as any martial arts instructor would, anyway. I smirked and nodded. He took that as a sign to continue his proposition.

“Would you like to become my assistant in this class? I'm sure you know a fair amount about other martial arts and I'd like to have the class get a different perspective on things. Your style is unique, and that may help the class get an edge on the battlefield.”

“If I teach everyone my style, it won't be unique anymore now will it?” I raised a brow and crossed my arms.

“That's true, but I'm not asking you to do that. I'm just suggesting you tutor them on how to predict their opponent's movements and counter accordingly.”

“I can do that. It's essential to any martial art. I'm surprised you didn't have it in your agenda beforehand.”

“Oh, believe me, I do. I just have to admit that since your style surrounds it, you know more about the slight intricacies than I do.”

“True.” I cracked my neck and nodded to his proposal. I suppose that was as high as I was going to get. Maybe I could even spar with him once in a while. Or the other instructors as well. It seems that I'm going places. I like this.

[Andromeda]

Time seemed to have passed quickly where ever that he went while for himself he would remain constantly stuck unable to advance. After three months of wandering he had ended up in the twenty-third district of Rukongai not spending too long in one place. It felt like there was supposed to be something that needed to be found, but wherever he went it was never the right spot. He could not understand the force that was driving him. All that he knew was that it simply pushed him on.

In the months since his departure from the Seireitei and the academy he had not spent as much time focusing on his training like he thought he would. It seemed like a smart thing to do. The trip would give him the space that he wanted and would result in him being more focused. However, now there was something constantly nagging at him that broke his concentration whenever he tried to stop for a moment. That feeling never seemed to vanish for him leaving him on edge. He was not certain how he was going to progress with his training if he was going to pass the test next time. Determination was all that he had going for himself at the time. It was not enough though as he found since it could not silence the feeling in his body.

Steph walked the back alleys of the district keeping out of the sight of most residents. He had already spent the last few hours in the crowded market street leaving him feeling tight and twisted. For him he had been with the crowd enough for the day that he needed the peace that the empty alleys brought him. In the distance he could see the riverbank holding its arms out welcoming him. It was not an invitation that could be refused.

The grass made a soft pillow for him as he laid back looking at the clouds in the sky. Steph closed his eyes letting the flow of the river echo through his ears with its gentle melody that eased him to sleep. It had been nearly a day since the last time he took a break, the time to rest was most welcome to him. ‘Will I ever find what I’m searching for?’

“Eventually,” the familiar voice said to him suddenly

Steph tried to maintain his sleep, but after a few minutes knew that it was already too late for that. “You know it makes it difficult to sleep with you talking to me.” He stood up on the cloud that was resting underneath him looking out at the woman slowly approaching him as she always did.

The woman gave him a playful smile in return as she stopped a couple clouds away. She leaned down towards on purpose causing him to blush slightly. “You know you’re getting quite the mouth on you talking so casually to your imagination.”

“How can I not get used to it considering how often you visit me.” He had only seen her a few short times during the week that he had spent in training and never before then but that one moment. However, ever since the test he had begun to see her more and more often. The first week it was only a couple times, but it increased. Now he was seeing her almost every time that he closed his eyes. He never seemed to wake up tired, but it was screwing with his mental stability. There was even one time that she visited him when he was walking. He did not know what was happening to him anymore with his mind playing these games. It had to mean something, but nothing made any sense.

She pulled herself back up letting her hand rest at her hip. “You wound me. You don’t like my company?”

Steph sighed softly not wanting to be fighting with himself while he was sleeping. “I didn’t say that. I’m sorry. You can visit as much as you like.” He looked around at the view having grown used to its bizarre environment. It could only be a dream, but all the same it was beautiful to behold each time.

“Always giving up. You back away from a fight every time it appears. You’re never going to learn anything if you hide.”

“I just don’t think it is a good idea to be fighting with myself. Its already strange enough.”

“No, you always back down. I thought that day had changed you where you stood up and fought during the test. But every time something conflicts with you step down. There’s going to come a time when you must fight; there will be no corners to run to and your opponent will not take ‘no’ for an answer.”

The sudden lecture from himself came as a bite of a surprise to Steph. She had a sharp tongue at times, but he was not expecting this from her. He had always seen her as some strange reflection of his conscious, but there were times where she did and said things that were nothing like him even deep down. It made him wonder how messed up he actually was to be having these sort of debate with himself. “I was trying to prove something to them then. I don’t have anything to prove to anyone out here. I have no interest in the people here. They will disappear from my thoughts the moment I leave. Nothing lingers. There’s no reason to get into a conflict with someone I’m not going to be seeing again. Its pointless.”

“Pointless? Is protecting others from danger pointless? Is protecting yourself pointless?”

“Protecting others? What are you talking about? I don’t have anyone to protect. I’m alone here. You should be well aware of that fact. As for myself, I’m still alive after ten years I think I’ve been doing well enough protecting myself.” Steph did not know what had gotten into her today, but there was a different mood and tone in her voice. This was not how things usually went between the two of them. He was not sure what he should be making of it. It made him want to wake up and not have to deal with her, but even that may not be a haven any longer.

“Selfish…things won’t change like this.” Upon those words she turned away walking on clouds that gathered beneath her. The world turned to a gray void until blackness leaped out from all corners surrounding it in an empty pit casting out Steph.

“Selfish!?” he shouted reaching out into the void already too late. The dream was gone and he was wake again unfortunately not feeling as well as he had wished. Steph’s voice did escape into the real world though bringing him the unwanted attention of several dark looking individuals that were standing over him. He pulled himself back to the grass uncertain as their presence around him. If they were just passing through he was not going to give them any reason to stay. ‘Why aren’t they leaving?’

Steph pulled up a part of the ground allowing him to escape a little only to have them all follow his movements. They were focused on him for some strange reason. He should have held no interest for them being a complete stranger. “What’s the matter little girl?” one of them said taking a hold of his wrist forcing him back at their feet.

It was difficult for him to know which hurt more at this point. His head was roughly planted into the dirt with grass tinkling his throat and he was yet again mistaken for a girl. ‘I’m never going to get over that…what did I do to them?’ Steph struggled against the force that was being applied to him trying to break free, but nothing seemed to be working. “Please…I don’t want to…fight.”

All his words did was make them laugh pulling at him harder. “You hear that, she doesn’t want to fight.”

“What could a little child like you do anyway?”

The pressure was increased to his arms as one of them pressed his foot into his back putting his shoulder joints to the breaking point. Steph bit through the pain feeling blood slowly drip through his lips from his teeth grinding against them. “What did…I do to…you?” He could not understand what he could have possible done to offend them. All he had been doing until the moment he woke was sleeping minding his own business. He should have done nothing to make them angry.

The three men looked at each other smirking to the other with a look like they were saying words without needing to speak them. “You hear that, she wondering what she did.” They laughed once again all in on the joke that remained between them leaving Steph in pain.

One of the men knelt down looking Steph in the face with a stupid wide grin across his face. “Nothing kid. We just having a bad day and wanted to share it with others. You just happen to be the first we saw. Should have stayed asleep.”

Steph’s eyes had widened in shock to hear that they were just picking on him because he was there. They were just looking for a fight for no other reason than to burn off anger. When the man was finished speaking they resumed the pressure on him and introduce their feet to the equation finding the soft thud against Steph to be most pleasing to their ears. ‘Why? Its like she planned this somehow…’

‘There’s going to come a time when you must fight; there will be no corners to run to and your opponent will not take ‘no’ for an answer,’ the woman’s voice echoed through his mind reminding him. It seemed as though this was happening on purpose just because to spite him. Like his subconscious was trying to fight him to prove a point.

‘Well I’m not going to give in. I’m not so weak as to let this bend me. I’ll prove to her that fighting is not the way to solve things.’ Steph painfully took the hits that layered across his body. It eventually came to the point that he did not where he was getting hit as his entire body was screaming out. All he could do was wait out his time, but it was growing worse for him each minute that passed. He had never been in a fight before and only been hit during those training sessions. While he hardened him a little this was nothing like training. He did not know when they were going to stop and he was starting to taste blood in his mouth. ‘Let it be over…please…’

After what felt like hours for Steph it stopped and the men grew tired walking away leaving the bleeding crippled mess of what was left of Steph in the grass to die. ‘I survived…proved to her, but at what cost…am I going to die?’ Steph quickly passed out not even dreaming this time fading away to darkness.


The sound of children playing was faint in the distance and the sound of a knife hitting a cutting board. It seemed like life and he could hear it. Steph slowly opened his eyes looking at the ceiling above him. ‘There’s no afterlife for the afterlife is there?’ He tried to raise his head, but found the pain too great to move. ‘No, not dead…though I sort of wish I was…the pain…’ The mistake of moving his body came as too late of a realization as everything over his body shouted out screaming in agony.

“I wouldn’t move if I were you, dear,” an elderly voice said from across the room.

Steph attempted again to lift his head, but found it too heavy for him to budge. He could hear the noise in the distance of chopping stop. The old woman walked over to the bed that Steph was resting in sitting down next to him. “Wha-how…”

“Don’t over exert yourself. The children found you on the bank of the river and carried you back here. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to save you, but you seem to have a strong will to live.”

‘Strong will to live? I don’t know about that…’ Steph narrowed his face slightly trying not to induce any more pain on his body than there already was.

“You’ve asleep for a day and yet most of your wounds already almost healed. You seem to be special, normal souls do not recover at the rate you are. How did you end up in a fight?” Steph kept quiet partly not wanting to answer the question and get too involve and partly because it would hurt too much. He could not even turn away. All that he was able to manage was closing his eyes. “Well I won’t pry if you don’t want to talk about it. Just focus on getting better right now.” The elderly woman stood up leaving the bedside.

Steph closed his eyes hoping to return back to the empty void. It had been too long since he had known a peaceful rest and the change was most welcoming. There was also the added advantage of not having to feel all of the pain that he was in. He hoped that the old woman was right in how quickly he was recovering. Fortune was on his side this time allowing him to quickly pass out.


Over the next few days Steph made a quick recovery as the old woman had said. In the short period of time most of the injures that he had sustained from the beating were fully healed. While he was not able to move as freely still the pain had subsided away to a manageable level. Steph was able to get out of the bed and walk about the small house that sat in a line of homes. He did not venture any further than the window, but it allowed him the view to see children playing in the streets. “So peaceful…”

“Yes, it is. You might learn a thing or two from them if you watch long enough,” the old woman said from the corner of the single room house fixing a hole in Steph’s clothes.

‘Still going on about that.’ He had to listen to her half subtle lectures about non-violence. From what he was told by the old woman was that the neighborhood in this district had made a decision to stop fighting between each other. They did everything that they could to forbade it and upon anyone that entered. However, blind they were not. All of the fighting and struggle going on around them continued and they would allow others in even if they had fought outside so long as they followed their rules while inside. “I already told you before I did not start the fight. I didn’t fight back.”

The children outside had suddenly stopped playing with one of them standing back shouting. Steph did not know what was wrong between them, but it looked like they were going to get into a fight over something. He looked around to see if the adults would step in knowing their nature, but they children continued. One of them stood up to the single child not backing down. Steph expected them to start something, even if they were just children. However, nothing became of it when the child saw that they were not backing down it ended just as quickly. They went back to playing innocently as though their problems were sorted out. “Why didn’t anyone step in to stop them? Something could have happened. They’re just children they shouldn’t be fighting.”

“And yet that managed to work things out without us interfering. You haven’t been listening very well to me. We may not condone violence, but we also do not hide in a corner letting ourselves become victims. If we believe in something we stand up for it facing it head on.”

Steph walked back to the bed lying down suddenly feeling the need for rest. He quickly went to rest looking forward to another peaceful time. While he was enjoying the silence he began to wonder why the strange dreams just stopped so suddenly. He could not have possibly gotten into a fight with his subconscious; the thought was stupid to even consider. Steph did not give it another thought fading out once his head came to rest on the pillow.


“Mister Shinigami! Hey! Hey, Mister Shinigami!” shouted numerous children. The noise that was being made outside was enough to force Steph away from his rest. However, it was the words ‘shinigami’ that caught his ears most of all keeping him awake. There was a shinigami outside and while he was not really surprised it made him wonder if there was a reason or just simple coincidence.

Steph pushed off the covers and disguised his interest with a casual walk to the window. When he arrived to look to see if he knew who it was there was no shinigami around. The noise had calmed as well bringing a bit of disappointment to him, but relief too. “Hmm, I guess he’s already gone.”

“You’re awake? Who’s gone?”

He turned back finding the old woman in the kitchen portion of the room making a midday meal. “The shinigami. I heard the children shouting about him, but he didn’t seem to stay around.”

“Oh you mean Mr. Nakai? He stops by every so often during his traveling. I doubt he left so quickly.”

Steph looked out the window once more scanning the street carefully looking for a shinigami, but it was not as though they were very difficult to find. The black uniform that they all wore made them stand very clearly. However, there was still no sign of a shinigami anywhere outside. Before Steph could walk outside to look more thoroughly a man entered the house followed by several children.

“Mr. Nakai, it is good to see you. It has been too long since your last visit. I hope the children have not troubled you much.”

The man in the doorway did not look the part of a shinigami. He was indeed carrying a sword with him, but apart from that he looked like anyone else that he would see on the street. While swords were not common it was not very hard to find someone that was not a shinigami keeping one at their side. “I’ve been missing them so it is no trouble at all.” The supposed shinigami turned his head looking at Steph a little confused and curious. “Who’s the young girl? Adopting another one?”

“Actually she’s a boy. Well don’t be shy.”

“My apologies. I meant no offense,” he said stepping towards Steph to welcome him.

Steph measured him up once again still not seeing a shinigami in him. He wondered if he was in disguise wandering the street looking for something. “I’m used to it. I heard the children calling you a shinigami. Are you really one?”

The shinigami backed off a step suddenly looking embarrassed rubbing his head. “They call me that around here, but I’m not really. I guess I’m the closest you can be to being one without really being one. So I guess that’s why they say that.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I never passed the final test, learning my Zanpukto’s name. I could do everything else, but that.” Mr. Nakai held out his sheathed Zanpukto out towards Steph while he spoke.

The sword whispered to him like the others that he had seen before, but since he was not touching it he could not hear it very clearly. He was not about to make a scene for himself trying to explain his strange powers. “I see,” Steph said letting the subject go from there. ‘Since he’s not a real shinigami he is not here for me. Though I don’ t know why that would be the case anyway. I said I’d be back for the next test.’

Once they were done the sword was returned back to his side and he walked over to the old woman chatting quickly between each other. Steph lost interest in the man and walked to the back of the house and through the doorway. He had not been in the back alley for the house before being stuck inside and it was about time that he reminded himself what the wind felt like. ‘It feels like its been so long, but it hasn’t even been a week yet. I’m going to have to leave soon.’

Day passed into night coating most of the neighborhood in a black veil with small holes of light from a few houses. Steph shared the meager dinner with the family that he had started to become a little accustomed towards. The children had their charm even if they were far wilder than he could deal with most of the time. Their dinner was interrupted by a rude noise from down the street. It was followed up by shouting and deep voices. The children’s curiosity got the better of them sending them to the window quickly to see what was happening.

“Come back and eat your dinner before it gets cold,” the elderly woman said realizing the futility of her words before she finished speaking.

Falling on distracted ears the children called back about the scene outside in the street. “There’s three men outside breaking things, Grandma.”

“Come back from the window.”

“But they’re breaking things. They’ll make people sad.”

Steph got pulled to the window by one of the little ones wanting to show him the scene that was getting out of control. He was not sure why the child dragged him over, but he kept looking at him like he wanted something from him. After a moment Steph came to the conclusion that the kid wanted him to go outside of stop them. ‘It’s just some tables and a few toys. They’ll grow tired of it and leave soon enough. No reason to antagonize them needlessly.’ Steph remained unmoved by the looks and attempted to return back to the seat he had on the floor. The child was stubborn, though the weak hold would not have been enough to hold him had he wished to forcibly get free. However, a door opened across the street releasing a couple approaching the three men. ‘What are they trying to do?’

The couple spoke calmly to the trio of men that were looking for a fight trying to talk them down. Even as they were surrounded by the three they did not back down, but they remained unwilling to fight as well. Steph did not even know if they would defend themselves if attacked. He assumed that this sort of thing had to have happened before, but given their ideals he was not sure to what complexity their rules extended. ‘Were they allowed to fight in a situation like this?’ Steph looked back at the old woman unchanged from her place since this all began.

“This is how we do things. We won’t stand by while wrongs are committed to us. What are you thinking? You want to help them or you want to run away?”

‘Who is this woman? I barely know these people. And I already said that I’m not going to fight before.’ Steph thought back to the week of training that he had trying to figure out what that was to him. He did not like fighting, but he still went along with it knowing that shinigami fight hollows. ‘It was a whim, but still did I cross that line? No…that was a mistake striking back at the instructor. I’m not like that. I’ll prove myself differently. I’ll prove fighting doesn’t have to be the way.’ There had to be another way for him.

Outside the men had grown tired of the defiant look in the couple’s eyes and began to take out their frustrations on them. A few hits and both were on the ground being kicked into the dirt. Steph tightened up his hand feeling the memories of the beating that he had received. It was difficult for him to watch, but this was their decision and it was not his place to change that.

As the time passed and the children pulled him to do something Steph turned away unable to continue. The old woman looked back at him with an unfamiliar look. He was not sure what she was wanting from him. It almost looked like she wanted him to stop the beating, but that seemed to go against their belief.

“Mr. Shinigami! Grandma, its Mr. Shinigami!”

Steph turned once more wanting to see what he would do knowing that a shinigami was trained to fight. He would be breaking their system fighting in the street, in their neighborhood. How would they react and would they refuse his aid?

Mr. Nakai walked straight into the mob gaining all of their attention quickly bringing the beating to a stop. The men seemed to find a target that looked healthier more interesting to fight. They all ceased their kicking charging in an uncoordinated mass at him. Nakai disappeared from everyone’s sight appearing for a moment at the couple before the three disappeared once more. In the silence carried across the street the men looked at each other confused searching for their missing target. One was even laughing acting like they had chased him off. Nakai reappeared back in front of the three individual carrying the defiant look that the couple once had.

‘Shunpo…flash step. It must be, he was trained it would only make since. But he was so fast I could not even see a blur like I did with some of the students.’ Steph watched a little in awe of seeing a shinigami, or someone close to that of a shinigami, actually making use of what he had briefly been instructed about in the week of training. For him to be able to witness this made him curious to know what else the man was capable of doing. It was not the time for question though as it looked like things were going to be heating up again with the real fight starting.

One of the men charged without thinking at Nakai grabbing a broken piece of wood from the table that they had destroyed earlier. The man took a wide swing at him, but only hit air as Nakai somehow was behind the men tapping him on the shoulder to get his attention once the man become puzzled by the strange disappearance again. The man took another swing making Nakai back up a few steps only enraging the man more. They danced around each other until Nakai disappeared again on a heavy swing by the man that connected with his two companions knocking the first out cold and angering the other. Once that had been done Nakai sat back letting the two knock the other senseless until neither could move. When all three were done he escorted them to the border of the neighborhood leaving them to wake up on their own.

Nakai returned to the doorway stepping in part way looking over at the old woman. “I’m sorry, I was late in arriving. I apologize for the fighting that you had to witness.” After his last words he walked out of the house leaving the street.

Steph had been left a little confused by what happened. While it was technically a fight that went against what they believed Nakai did not actually throw a single punch. He did nothing more than move out of the way leading the others to fight instead of himself. It was actually quite clever and a careful loophole. But he was pretty sure that they did not approve of any fighting in their neighborhood even if it was not being done by one of their own. ‘What are they going to do now?’

The street returned to normal and the children went back to eating at the order of the old woman. Things seemed to have resumed as though it did nothing to change them. Steph awkwardly sat down on the floor looking at his food not sure he was interested in eating. For him at this point he was simply humoring them as he no longer had any hunger. The first few days he did for the first time in as long as he could remember, but now it was back to the way he was accustomed.


Mr. Nakai walked to the bank of the river nearby the neighborhood. A dark figured approached from behind leaning down to drop a stone in the water. Neither looked at each other continuing to watch the water pass slowly down. “I waited as long as I could before stepping in.”

“Yes, it seems that he is a stubborn one indeed.”

“What will you do now?”

“Well it seems getting beaten to an inch of his life was not enough to push him over and seeing people that he knew beaten did not do it either. I have no choice, but to watch and wait. If I can’t push him with force I’m going to have to let time work it’s own magic.”

“But sir. Didn’t you say he is a wander? Time won’t last long enough.”

“Yes, but from my short time in researching him I know that he is looking for something. He wants a place that he can return to.”

“And you think this place will be that place? I visit here frequently for your work, but this place is hardly an environment to invoke the fighting spirit in him. Everyone here is pacifists, they’ll soften him.”

“I’m counting on it. When the time comes I will see that power grow. I must know more about him.”

“Why is he so important? I heard you have even Captain Kurotshuchi’s approval for this research. If the Captain is interested won’t he take control of the research?”

“The Captain is still not convinced, but he is curious. Neither of us have seen someone like him. I must know more.”

“Yes, sir.” Once the last words were spoken the two disappeared leaving the river alone again.


The time for Steph to leave had come after a full week of recovery. In the last couple of days he got to know the people a little better and even used a little of the healing technique that he learned on the couple that got hurt. He did not know what he was doing, but it seemed to help. The children seemed reluctant to let him leave wanting him to stay around.

“Please don’t go, onee-nii-sama*!”

“You’ll be back onee-nii-sama right?”

“Onee-nii-sama! Onee-nii-sama!”

‘I guess its better than nyuu-chan. Still difficult to get used to.’ Steph gave them an awkward smile getting past the new title that he had earned in his stay. It was at least something that he could get used to being called since they were just children. “I promise that I’ll stop by again. Thanks for your hospitality…Grandma.”

The old woman gave a small chuckle and smiled back at Steph. “Still having trouble saying it huh? Well don’t be shy and don’t forget.”

“Alright. I’ll be going now.” The walk out of the neighborhood was even more difficult than leaving the house. He had the children following in his shadow the entire time quietly, but piercing him with their eyes. Their efforts to change his will were not enough to make him change his mind and once he reached the end of the street he looked back at them. Steph gave them a final wave before departing from the street to resume his wandering.

The weeks passed for Steph slowly still searching for the unknown arbitrary intangible object that haunted the back of his mind. In the time he was able to focus more on his training, but improvements seemed to be painful and slow. He had made a lot of changes in that week, but now he was at a stand still. His mind was welcomingly quiet as well with the woman of his dream no longer bothering him everyday. In fact, Steph had not seen her since the day that she got mad at him. It made his concentration better and after the first week he stopped thinking about it as anything more than a phase.

Every so often when he roamed back to the twenty-third district he stopped by to visit the children and the old woman that he was slowly being able to call Grandma. The first time he returned was a month later and he left the next day. But he returned on a whim two weeks later staying for a couple days. Steph could not explain the reasoning, but they seemed to grow on him. There was something about them that he felt comfortable around. He wanted to go back and it became more difficult to leave each time. The children had become attached to him and he almost felt the same. It seemed like a place he could call home, but that almost felt wrong for him to say since he had traveled without a home for ten years in the Rukongai. A home was never something that interested him as he had all he needed with him. However, his thoughts were changing in ways that he was not expecting.

“Onee-nii-sama!” a child shouted announcing Steph’s return.

This was his fifth visit back to the neighborhood. The last visit was three week ago, a little longer than his usual for him, but he had gone into the forty-fifth district following the strange trail that he had picked up. He had no further explanation for himself other than it was something he had to track down. If it held some meaning to him he did not understand it and left shortly after reaching the end. He was glad to be back in somewhere familiar and a place that he could get a night’s rest. “How you guys doing?”

“We were just playing with the tops.”

“Do you bring us something back, onee-nii-sama?”

“Always got a sharp eye don’t you? I can’t hide anything from you.” Steph pulled out a few small trinkets from his pockets that he had found along his walk. One was a small flower of wood, a blue marble that when spun glowed and an iron wheel. He held out his hand flat letting them pick and enjoy the new toys that he had brought them.

“Pretty! Thank you, onee-nii-sama!” The children ran off down the street to show off to the others. The marble seemed to grab the most attention glowing as it rolled through the dirt street.

Steph continued down the street making his way to the house that was waiting for him each time. Inside was the old woman that he called Grandma. She was working in the corner on some sheets of cloth when he entered. “Hey, Grandma!” He adjusted his clothes briefly to fit on his shoulders and pull it off his back before sitting down on the floor.

“Steph, I thought it was you from the noise the children were making. You bring them something back again from your travels?” She continued to stitch the fabric pieces together with only half of her attention.

“Yeah, they are showing them off to the other kids.” He pulled out the band that held his hair together letting go free to straighten out from the weather and wear that went through it.

“You spoil them too much.”

“Hardly. They did find me lying there on the riverbank and dragged me back. It’s the least I can do. So what you working on now?” Steph leaned over trying to see if he could figure out from the shapes and pattern what she was making. However, aside from it being folded up, he did not have a good understanding of sewing to make a guess without it being hung straight.

She drew in the fabric closer to herself to keep the secret. “Just something I’m making for one of the neighbors. So did you find what you were seeking this time. You were gone for quite some time this time.”

Steph finished evening out his hair and tied it back up when he looked up at the old woman to respond. “Oh. Unfortunately, I did not. But I guess it does not help that I don’t know what I’m looking for.” He pulled gently at his ponytail bringing the band up against the base of his head making it tight around. “Well I’ll figure it out eventually.”

“That’s right. Just need to give it time.”

The two continued to chat the hours away until it came time for their dinner to be prepared. As Steph had been doing before he helped in the preparations like the children did making the work go back faster. This was usually the only time that he ever ate anything out of courtesy. He also rarely had much to eat always making the children question him about his habits. All he could ever tell them was he was that he had a small appetite.

Around the table while they were eating one of the children brought up something. “Did you hear about the ghost woman haunting the streets?” The mention of ghosts had the others at the table immediately glowing with curiosity wanting to hear more.

“What ghost woman? I didn’t hear about that.”

“I heard it from Shinji Ichino. He said that she’s been appearing every night for the last two week taking away people.”

“Did he see the ghost?”

“Well no I don’t think so. But he said he heard it from someone that did. So it must be true!” The validity of the claim was quickly disappearing as the curiosity was fading away to disappointing skepticism. The youngest seemed to be taking it a little too seriously starting to become frightened by the thought of a ghost wandering around the street.

The old woman could see the effect that it was having on the child and the bickering that was quickly devolving into a debate of the legitimacy of hearsay. “Now children the dinner table is no place for ghost stories.”

Steph leaned over handing the scared child seconds on food to try to get their mind off the thoughts. “Don’t worry about it. This is the Soul Society, there are no ghosts here. We’re all spirits, so if anything we are all ghosts. You have nothing to be afraid of.”

“But honest-“

“You heard Grandma, no more lies.”

“But-“ The child could quickly see that he was not going to get anyway further with the conversation. The others that had been interested before were now just seeing him as a lair looking for attention and they had all been lightly scolded. No one wanted to continue it any further.

[Andromeda]

Once dinner finished after the bit of excitement over a fake ghost Steph stepped outside to look at the stars and enjoy the night air. Now that all of the lights in the area were out it made it much easier for him to watch the sky. ‘So peaceful…wonder how long I can stay.’ Steph folded his arms under his head and leaned back against the house.

“Onee-nii-sama?”

Steph looked behind him finding the child with the tale of the ghost looking at him like he wanted something from him. He had a feeling he knew what the child was wanting, but he asked anyway. “Yes? It’s late. Did you need something?”

The child played with his fingers holding back his question for the moment. He stepped further outside of the house looking straight at Steph. “Uh, you don’t think it was a ghost, Onee-nii-sama?”

His hunch played out as he expected. He could see during dinner that the child seemed to believe what he was saying, even if no one else did. It was not going to be dropped and forgotten so easily. “What makes you think it is ghost?” Steph knew that there were no ghosts here because of what he said earlier. There was no such thing as a spirit of a spirit. The ghosts were those in the real world. If he could learn a little more about the mystery woman that was supposedly running around at night he might be able to give a better answer to what she actually was.

“Well I haven’t seen it, but Shinji said she was completely white. I remember hearing that ghosts in the real world were white.”

Steph watched him carefully while he was speaking hoping to glean some clues from the child to see deeper. It was clear enough that he seemed to believe his friend Shinji. But for all Steph knew Shinji could be pulling a prank on him for some twisted laughs. He remembered seeing how cruel children could be in spite of appearing so innocent. However, when he heard the description he could not deny how similar it could sound. ‘Ghosts are white at least in stories. However, if the child saw it so clearly to know how white it was it was probably not a ghost. The more likely probability is that it is a hollow. And if a child had never seen one before it probably could easily be confused. It would also explain why people would be disappearing.’ The thought of a hollow being nearby worried him. He knew that he had no chance against one and it was uncertain how quickly the Seireitei could come to kill it. If it attacked how many people would be hurt or killed?

‘I can’t let him think that it could be a hollow.’ Steph moved closer to the child giving him a reassuring smile letting him know that everything would be safe. “Yeah, that sounds like it could be a ghost. But are you sure your friend did not see someone dressed completely in white?” He had to try to calm the child down, but there seemed to be something else besides just thinking it was a ghost.

“But that’s not all. Shinji’s going to be attacked tonight!” The child clung to Steph’s clothes insisting on being believed at this point. All that was on his face was honest panic and fear for someone he knew being in danger.

‘That explains why he taking this so seriously. If it is a hollow there is nothing I can do, it would kill me. Perhaps if it was something else I might be able to do something. But still…’ Steph narrowed his expression while he tried to calculate his next move. Unfortunately, everything that he came out with found him in a conflict with someone. He was not certain what he could possibly do. “How do you know that he is the target?”

“The ghost leaves a mark on the next house and it always takes someone. Shinji’s house was marked last night.”

Steph looked up at the stars one last time seeing how late it was in the night. ‘I don’t have much choice left.’ The child dragged him down the street by the hand leading him to Shinji’s house or at least the place that he stayed at. Steph did not know who Shinji was, but he figured that he had possibly seen him in passing. ‘I don’t have any tricks like Mr. Nakai to avoid danger. My flash step has not improved any to be useful.’ Steph’s mind turned while they drew closer to the house. He was sadly left with nothing for him to do, but worry and figure out the different variables.

Shinji’s house arrived in front of them with the night sky and complete silence stirring an ill brew that made Steph’s spine tingle. He had not been afraid like the child before, but he was sharing in the experience now to his dismay. “Where’s Shinji, inside?”

“He said he was going to hid in the back of the house.”

Steph was guided around the house letting the child call out for his friend. However, there was no answer bringing further panic into his voice. He searched around franticly looking for his friend, but still to no avail.

Steph stepped back suddenly feeling something bad from within him telling him that he should not be around any longer. He could not make any sense of the feeling past the ill feeling that he was receiving, but he had to act. “Hey, maybe Shinji’s in the front or nearby. We should check elsewhere.”

“But what if-“

“We should move!” Steph shouted grabbing the child running as quickly as he could before there was a large crash in the ground behind them. The impact cracked the stone and dirt kicking up dust and smoke into the air masking whatever happened. Steph stumbled over from the shockwave holding the child on top of him for protection. Once he had stopped sliding across the ground he slowly rose up making sure the child was safe. “You hurt?”

“No…but Shinji.”

In the suddenness of everything Steph had not took a scan of his surroundings. The child was pointing towards the ground just outside of the dust cloud that hung in the air. Steph’s eyes jerked open in horror seeing blood spread all over the ground with the mangled body of a small child at the center. “We have to get out of here now!” His mind froze up only thinking of fleeing. This was no ghost and it was certainly nothing that he could handle. ‘I’m going to die! I’m going to die! I’m-‘

“Onee-nii-sama, but-“ the child said as his voice was cut off as blood sprayed across Steph’s face. The boy that he had been trying to protect was now in two pieces in his arms soaking his clothes. Once the blood ran through the layers to touch his skin his mind completely shut down paralyzed in absolute fear. He had not even seen the attack and the cloud still hung around the crater left in a void of silence. Steph no longer knew what was happening fearing for the next attack to cleave him.

“Steph!” a voice from above said as the figure landed between him and the crater. It took a minute for Steph to see clearly enough to making out the face. Mr. Nakai had shown up standing defiantly against the unknown that stayed hidden in the smoke. This time he was not playing around like with those men months back. He had his Zanpukto drawn aimed towards the smoke. “If you can move run now!”

‘Run? Run…I can’t move!’ The hold that fear had on him was too great for him to struggle against. Steph’s entire body was shaking uncontrollable and sweat poured down his face. He could barely see straight as he saw Nakai leap into the smoke leaving Steph alone to listen to the scrapping attacks. Each clash that he heard pounded through his head rattling his heart and sucking air out of his lungs. Pressure around him continued to increased pulling on his skin and bones making it impossible for him to flee now even if he wished.

After a series of attacks out of sight Nakai appeared bursting out of the smoke with trails following off the ends of his torn clothes. He was breathing heavy and blood dripped from wounds that lined his body. ‘This spiritual pressure… why does it feel familiar?’ Nakai turned back looking at Steph to see that he had still not moved. The opponent that he faced was strong, much stronger than he imagined. He was not certain that he would be able to defeat this enemy. The spiritual pressure was stronger than his making it difficult for him to move at his usual speed. ‘It’s as strong as a seated officer…I must do what I can to protect Steph.’

Nakai charged back into the cloud that masked their fight leaving Steph alone. As the clashes grew louder Steph could feel the pressure on him lifting a little allowing him to struggle against it and stand up. The earth quaked beneath his feet knocking off balance during his attempts, but he continued to fight it. ‘I must run…like Nakai said…’ Once he was on his feet backing away Nakai burst from the cloud again landing on his back spraying blood to the ground. Steph stepped back seeing the blood and wounds that covered him.

With deep labored breathing Mr. Nakai stood up to one knee looking out of one eye, the other cut and blood dripping down along the cheek to his chin. He looked back once more at Steph pleased to see him standing. “You alright, Steph?”

“Y-yes…but you…” Steph tilted his head down casting shadows over this eyes blocking them from view.

“That’s good. Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. Get out of here now while you have the chance.” Nakai stood up dripping blood from simply the exertion of moving his muscles. He confidently clasped his sword firmly staring down the clouded enemy.

Steph held his hands close to his chest trying to keep himself from falling apart again. “You’re not. You’re hurt! You have to stop before-“

“No! Leave now! This is a fight for me and not you.” Nakai walked over to Steph grabbing him by the shoulders and pushed away into the street to the front of the house out of view. He turned back to face the enemy before him giving a smirk to the unknown. “Now that he is away I can fight without holding back!” Nakai’s spiritual pressure suddenly increased dramatically with a blue glow around the outline of his body. He leapt to the air changing the way he held his Zanpukto bringing the hilt back behind him with the bladed edge to the sky and the tip of the blade angled down towards the crater. “Purge and clean all that struggles against you! Mizuyousei!” Upon the words Nakai spoke he released his Zanpukto to its shikai state transforming its appearance slightly. The blade grew in length slightly and became double-edged straightening out.

“Go Mizuyousei! Wash away that cloud that surrounds them!” Nakai grasped the sword with both hands raising it high above his head and swinging it down in a full arc. In the path of the arc water burst from the air as though he had cut a pocket into the dimensions releasing a tidal wave. The water directed through his spiritual pressure aimed straight at the hidden enemy impacting the cloud and passing through taking the dirt and dust with it too heavy to remain in the air soaked with water. At the center of the crater stood a white figure.

Before Nakai could make another attack a suddenly red and black energy blade came from the crater striking him down. Not even his water wall that he erected a second before the attack could stop it. The attack cut deep sending Nakai flying backwards ripping through his clothes down to the skin. Nakai slammed against the stone of a house fifty meters away cracking it slightly. The blood from his wound brushed across the white painted stone. ‘I can’t move…’

The white figure moved towards Nakai out of the crater gathering up the dust and dirt once again. A final blow was delivered to Nakai stripping him of his life letting the last breaths of his existence escape him while the cloud was completed and moved on to the street.

“A woman in white…she…hollow…” Nakai said unable to speak completely with some words not being spoken as he slowly closed his eyes.

Steph continued to run down the street his eyes wide with panic. He had to alert someone. There had to be something done. Mr. Nakai was going to die if he did not find someone to help him. Suddenly his mind whispered him an echo from his memories. ‘No, you always back down. I thought that day had changed you where you stood up and fought during the test. But every time something conflicts with you step down. There’s going to come a time when you must fight; there will be no corners to run to and your opponent will not take ‘no’ for an answer.’ Steph closed his eyes still running trying not to listen to it.

‘You always back down.’

‘No! I’m not!’

‘I thought that day had changed you…’

‘I’m no different!’

‘But every time something conflicts with you step down.’

‘Fighting’s not the way!’

Steph had made it back to Grandma’s house coming to a sliding stop. He pulled the curtains open used as a door and his eyes widened freezing him in his step. No words would come from his mouth. Mind and body had just simply come to a crashing stop. He fell into a black void of emptiness that was waiting for him.

In what felt like days in that world he finally could think a single thought. ‘They’re dead!’ Before him was blood splattered across every wall of the house and the bodies of the family that he had come to know as his own left around the floor. When he had found his muscles again he stepped into the house with every inch of his body trembling in fear and sadness. Even though he could not speak tears shouted for him covering his face as he looked down at the horrified expressions on the children’s face. ‘Dead…dead…they’re all…DEAD!’

A scream escaped from Steph’s mouth after having been locked inside for so long. The scream pierced the walls and the minds of everyone nearby shaking all who heard it to their very core. Sorrow, depression, tears, anger and sadness soaked the noise thickly leaving none to question the reason for it being released. The emotions that rode upon its back wrapped themselves around any that heard it chilling their blood and leaving paralysis behind. Painted through the night sky was a broken heart left with no boundaries or walls that could with hold it any longer. All restraint and logic were vaporized in the instant leaving nothing but the raw seething emotions of pain, self-loathing, rage and sadness. “DEAD!!”

“Yes and you will be next. Pain and lost makes for the most satisfying spice to a soul.” The voice came from outside through the disguised cloud. The new target had become Steph now as though this was all simply to make for a more enjoyable meal.

“You killed them all!”

“Yes I did and now I will kill you. You might be weaker than that shinigami, but your soul is just the way I like it.” A sinister laugh crawled from the cloud playing on the last thread that held Steph back.

‘There’s going to come a time when you must fight; there will be no corners to run to and your opponent will not take ‘no’ for an answer.’

“I don’t care anymore! I’m going to KILL YOU!” Steph eyes suddenly glowed green followed by his entire body being surrounded by a green aura that burst unrestrained from him lashing out at the house. The aged house that had stood too long already collapsed under the sudden release of spiritual pressure from Steph exploding it to debris leaving an empty lot with the bodies of the dead around him. Energy radiated from him in waves riding off of pure emotions quickly increased bottled up for so long.

“What’s this spiritual pressure? You’re much stronger than you look, but it would seem I can’t enjoy my meal with company coming. I’ll let it boil to a simmer until the time comes when I can devour you.” The cloud disappeared in an instant having sensed the arrival of a Captain and Vice-Captain shinigami.

Steph eyes widen as he felt a sharp pain in his chest and coughed up blood collapsing to the ground. He suddenly felt all of the energy leaving him. There was nothing for him to stand up and he could barely lift a muscle. He stretched out his hand trying to reach out to the children and Grandma, but they were out of reach of him. His eyes suddenly became heavy with the world becoming gray.

Footsteps nearby turned his eyes towards the new visitors that had scared off the unknown individual. Steph could not make out anything just simply vague voices.

“Captain one of Captain Kurotshuchi’s subordinates is dead as well as a two children.”

“Yes, there’s more over here Rangiku.”

“I can’t sense that hollow anywhere, Captain. It seems to have killed many of the people here.”

“Yes, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. I find it strange that it was the Squad 12 Captain rather than the Hollow Monitoring Station that detect it.”

“Didn’t he say he wanted the child if he was still alive?”

“Something doesn’t sit right.”

“Captain?”

“Pick up the child and let’s go. We’ll send someone from Squad 4 to see tend to this.”

Steph was still holding on to consciousness as he saw a woman picking him up. She held him close as she leapt into the air following behind the other shinigami. There was something familiar about it that made him feel safe as the light disappeared. He whispered something with his last breath before passing out.

“What’s with that look?”

“I think he called me his mother. But I’m too young aren’t I?”

“Don’t be stupid, Rangiku. The boy lost his family. He’s probably just thinking about them.”

“Don’t have to be so mean, Captain.”

“Take him to Squad 4 to be tended to. I’ve got something to look into.”

“But Captain!”


From a monitoring room of the research and development building stood Captain Kurotshuchi and a shinigami watching the scenes that transpired with Steph. The Captain remained stone face from the events while the shinigami seemed to appear pleased. Once it was over the Captain turned and began walking away. He stopped for a moment looking back. “I see the proper stimulation has been applied. I expect regular reports on this boy’s development. Once he’s fully developed he will make for an interesting specimen.”

“Thank you, Captain.” Captain Kurotshuchi left the room leaving the shinigami behind to stare at the monitor. The pleased smirk on his face washed away as he turned to panel as he began to work.


The days passed away for Steph in the medical station of Squad 4 until he finally woke up. When he awoke he looked around the room finding it not the place that he had left or remembered. He could barely remember anything after collapsing to the ground, but there was enough for him to realize that he had been taken here.

Steph stood up from the bed walking around the room as much as he could with tubes attached to him. After a few moments of aimless wandering a woman showed up in the room looking at him with a warm caring smile. “I’m glad to see you’re awake. You’ve been unconscious for some time. We were not certain with the amount of reiatsu that you released if you would be able to recover, but I’m relieved to see that you are well.”

“What are you talking about?” Steph said looking at the nurse confused tilting his head. All he could remember was that he got angry and there was something warm around him. He did not know what had happened, but it like the spiritual energy when he focused on making a ball. However, it was as though it was all around him and everywhere. It did not make a lot of sense to him, but he did not want to focus on it at the moment. He could feel the memories coming back to him making him start to cry.

The nurse became a little worried seeing Steph reaction and rushed over to him. “Did I say something to hurt you?” She tried to comfort him not know the circumstances to his injuries.

“No…I’m sorry. Just memories.” Steph looked around the room trying to let the thoughts go and be taken in by something else. He walked away from the bed looking down at the floor and then at a table in the corner. On top of the table where his clothes along with another clothe that he was not familiar with laying across. He touched his hand to it feeling memories flow into him again.

The nurse stepped forward to Steph when she saw what he was looking at. “They found that in the remains of the house. It had your name sew into it.”

Steph pulled it up from the table letting it unfold finding it to be a fine scarf of green silk with careful embroidery of his name at the corner. ‘Grandma was working on this when I came. This was for me…’ The memories only made it more difficult for him forcing him to set it back down on the table. “May I walk around outside?” Steph said looking towards the window. It felt like forever since he had felt the wind between his fingers. He had other things to do as well.

“Uh, I don’t see why not. But don’t go too far. You’re still recovering.” The nurse requested that Steph lie back down on the bed while she removed everything that was attached to him. Once he was free she gave him a reassuring nod and walked out of the room. Steph came up behind her following her directions that she had given him on how to get outside.

Steph did not waste anytime finding his way glad for the first burst of wind that crashed up against him. He released a warm grin on his face trying to hide the sorrow behind his eyes. Unfortunately, the memories would not fade for him. After another moment with the air he walked over to the nearest place of shade to look at the clouds. He leaned back against the wall of the building slowly closing his eyes, waiting.

‘I’m sorry.’

Steph opened his eyes to find himself back in the dream that he had left behind for so long. He figured that he would see her again. It was only a matter of time before they would be face to face. “You’re back. You got what you wanted. Why are you sorry?”

“I can feel the pain that you’re in, but I’ll be here to support you. I won’t let you suffer alone.” The woman walked over to Steph crossing the clouds to meet him where he sat with his head hung low. She wrapped her arms around him holding him tightly. “I may have wanted you to see my point of view, but this is not the manner in which I would have wanted it shown to you. It is far too cruel to do you.”

‘So warm…’ Steph began to cry again with the memories flooding back to him. He could not go back now from what had happened. There was no more choice and no other path for him to follow. “I’ll become stronger. I’ll kill that thing that killed Grandma and the children. I’ll make sure that never has to happen again. I will!”

“Steph…” the woman said lowering her head with his sharing in his pain and tears. She wept with him until the tears were dry and Steph had fallen as sleep in her arms. “This is too cruel a path for you Steph…but I’ll be here to walk with you no matter where you go.”



*Onee-nii-sama – Older sister-brother