Shuffle~
....
Rustle~
"....urgh....." A figure arises from a bed. A disturbed look on their face.
tick-tock~ tick-tock~
The sound of an analogue clock emphasized in this quiet peaceful night.
A deep night-the stars shimmered while the moon remains center stage attracting the most attention. its reflective light leaking through the gaps in the curtain of the rooms window.
"fuuuuuh~" The figure carefully breaths. "Something feels...wrong. It doesn't take this much effort for me to.....sleep....especially when I'm this dead tired...yawn~" the silhouettes chest raises in tandem with their reflexive action.
The place lay in still quietness. a perfect environment for rest yet the concept of sleep seems to have quietly left the figures very being, leaving them struggling-
"I know this feeling....." He breaths out "That instinct....its flaring up again...but right now??" From the very bottom of his being a feeling of restlessness erupts seemingly unprovoked....
His body refuses to go back to a state of relax until whatever threat is dealt with decisively-yes an instinct indeed, more akin to a danger sense or you can even go as far as to call it a 6th sense in the right circumstances....
Not only the body but even the mind grows restless many thoughts rushing through at breakneck speeds trying to suspect out any form of danger his room-his safe haven might carry.
Tick-tock~ Tick-tock~
the sound of the analogue clock beats in time with his own heart...A bead of sweat drops...
He finally moves. A frantic search begins with him checking under the bed, looking for any out of place items, sifting through his manga stash and yes his hidden hentai stash as well.....
His PC, his gaming consoles, his phone, all electronics turned off. No cracks or weakness in the walls or ground.
"Its getting too much!" Grinding to a halt after checking everything and finding nothing but his body still in restless overdrive as if to give him a massive warning that the danger has not passed-exasperated he sits back on his bed.
"I trust my own guts, its never done wrong before....but there's a first for most things in life-
The figure was preparing to struggle through this night with his body still chalk full of restless caution-
But something.....seismic...happened right that moment as if to laugh and mock at his own inexperience in scenarios like this. something that he left out of the scope of his thoughts because he honestly...didn't think it would happen like that due to no prior warning or notification or any information for that matter that could lead to something like this to most likely happen....
SHAKING!
"AH-" The figure stumbles. His balance uncontrollable, drifting to the floor with great force...
"No way....right?...a sudden earthquake???" He said as he tried to catch himself, items in his room shifting and preparing to fall. The ceiling and walls enveloping itself in cracks and terrifying fractures.....
THE TREMORS GOT WORSE!
"Yaaaghhh!!" with not enough balance to get up and run properly he stumbles and rolls in desperation-slipping under the bed but there is a major problem-
His room...IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR!!
The floor warps itself, bending and fracturing-The blood drains from his face at the realization but-TOO LATE!
THE FLOOR GIVES WAY SWALLOWING HIM, HIS BED AND EVERYTHING ELSE WHOLE!!!....
THE CEILING CRASHES AND FALLS AS IF PREPARING TO BURY THEIR VERY OWNER!!!.......
The danger sense instinct rang true....but it was not enough when rate of survival is at an all time low.....extremely close to 0!...only a divine intervention or a really far out warning could allow him to steer clear of such danger...........
...................
......Leaves flicker softly on trees.....a small hill overlooking a unique looking walled off community.....fresh breeze coming in from anywhere and everywhere. Sun high up in the sky illuminating everything in the bright light of day.
Eyes fluttered open in panic. "HAAAAAAHHH!!" a sudden gasp accompanied by chest rising and falling as the figure wrestles to get their breath under control.
His eyes quickly wander. Taking in the the scenery of an area he has most definitely not been to before-laying on a hill covered by grass with a few trees to the side blocking that specific view.
Situation dawning on him he quickly sits up "NO!...where am I! my house!?" Something was definitely off 'I cant be in a place like this all of a sudden.....how am I alive, how was I moved!?' He entertained many thoughts but none seemed even the least bit close to likely.
Quickly looking at himself-His body intact and almost just as it should of been no muscle damaged or limbs bent in wrong place at the wrong angles-completely healthy and the right proportions for a fourteen or fifteen year old boy as he was. but what caught him off guard was what he was wearing. "WHO CHANGED MY CLOTHES!?" he shouted.
His indignation rightfully founded as what he had on was a far cry from the modern day pajama shirt and pants...
What greeted him was a red short-sleeved kimono top coupled with black hakama pants coupled with white socks and straw sandals for footwear...
The boy tried his best to calm himself. Telling himself to get all the facts before jumping to conclusions.
He turned his head noticing the naturalness of the area, like a crisp forest. himself situated on a hill overlooking that forest he turns until something caught his eye...
At first there was no reaction but then came shock then dread-
"Is that the seireitei....." He sounded out in a quiet unbelieving voice. Don't let the lacking reaction fool you it is a massive surprise, its just that his capacity for expressing his surprise has reached it's limit now.
his hand Shakely moves-
It touched something-he quickly turns to look....
siting beside him is what seems to be a regular looking katana. Its blade polished and gleaming.....
His eyes wonder to the blade, catching his reflection in it. Another surprise.
His entire face and hair has changed. He no longer looked like what he did before.
His hair now a medium length, bright, lively green. His eyes now Asian shaped, slanted slightly upward with purple iris and his face shaped softer and smoother than before.
"...Ho-" Before he could comment, a tingling feeling came in his head it felt as if something was seeping into his brain.....
New information is being carefully funneled in-in what looks like memories...
These new memories....were not enough to reflect the full lifetime of this current body-just enough to give basic knowledge and small pieces of his current identity.
It was over quickly. Barely lasting second but the difference was major in the temperament of this boy...
"The world of bleach....the world of balance and names...This is....nemure rinkai.....that's my name now....currently living and wandering about west rukongai." As his thoughts settled and the memories cleared themself, the boy found he is reaching some semblance of calm, one could even say relaxed state.
"This blade is an asauchi I lifted off of a poor Shinigami who fell in the 48th district of west rukongai, patara, and now I've currently made my way to the closest district to the seireitei for more safety huh...." That's where the memories of this body ends.....there was not much detail and the memories only reflected some of the more recent events.....
"Sigh....whatever~" He drawls lazily lying back down on the grass as if to rest-
Snoore~
The boy-nemure rinkai, went to sleep as if the world around him doesn't matter anymore...well in truth this sleep was long time coming as he was finally free from the restlessness that accompanied his danger sense like instincts........
........................
An unknown amount of time passed.
Within the seireitei blanketed in a soft orange light as the sun dipped with its last sparks for the day.
At the headquarters of one of the divisions of the seireitei-most notably the 13th division. Operations of this division proceeds smoothly, atleast for now.
"Captain ukitake, the patrol period of the living world for this batch of Shinigami should be over, should we rotate them now." The vice captain of said division enquires.
"Mm, we should. They've done great work they deserve some rest. Setup the next batch if you can." Ukitake Jushiro, the sickly captain of the 13th division says with a casual smile.
"Right! please mind your health captain ukitake." The vice captain gives a bow before leaving to continue his work.
as the vice captain leaves, jushiro wistfully entered his own scape of thoughts 'Everything seems peaceful now.....but there is more going on under the surface. A whole bunch of rukongai citizens keep disappearing, more so ones with the potential to become shinigami...a shame, I'd have to trust shunsui and captain hirako to get to the root of this.' jushiro thought helplessly...
............................
A figure on a small hill quietly wakes up.
"Yawn~ wish I could indulge more but I need to get things done...man, if only I could sleep for a whole 24 hours right now." A boy, the one now known as nemure rinkai, gathers himself, picks up the asauchi and started to make his trek down from the hill. Heading in the direction of the town area of the district.
While on the way he decided to test his body. He could sense it, this body has decent spiritual power thus has the potential to become shinigami. This is all according to the limited memories he received from this body and more specifically.....
Gurgle~
"sigh~" Yes you heard that right, he is hungry. And based on what he remembers from the bleach series, only those souls who's spiritual power reach a certain level would be able to feel hunger.
Regardless that doesn't stop him from testing the body on the way to town.
The boy did a couple of test hops before rocketing off high and landing on a tree branch. This body seems to be well built for high agility. perfect for making a run if it if he crosses any danger.
He jumps of the tree branch and continues down the well treaded path.
While walking he stares at the asauchi he carried with him. "Based on the bleach series, this is what shinigami uses to achieve both shikai and bankai huh~" he drawled "by meditating with the sword and establishing contact with your zanpakuto spirit one can release the powers held by that zanpakuto spirit using the asauchi as a medium, transforming it into your own unique zanpakuto by calling out the spirits true name. A Shinigami's reiatsu also undergoes a qualitative and quantitative leap with each release achieved.....I wonder what my zanpakuto spirit would be like heh~" He scoffed lazily. "Regardless better to find a more quiet, safe and secluded place before I begin that process." He finished as he heard hustling and bustling of residents the closer and closer he got to the town.
This simple but well kept together town is one of the safest in all of rukongai as its one of the closest to the seireitei, as such shinigami patrol to and from it regularly making crime and slaughter an almost a non-factor. In fact a lot of shinigami actually live or setup temporary bases in this very district.
I quickly make my way to a marketplace to purchase a ready cooked snack with the Kan this body had on them currently.
I decided its best I start gathering more information on important stuff like the current timeline and what to be aware of, so I asked the residents simple questions like 'what's the latest gossip' or 'who are the current captains of the divisions in the seireitei' the memories left to me by this body doesn't do enough justice.
.......and I got some worrying answers....
"The current captains? uuuuuhh! I think I remember the captain for 10th division...its that shiba guy, right!? oh! and the 13th division has this sickly one called ukitake I heard he doesn't show himself much because he was so sick.....and I remember hearing about someone like 'captain Hirako'.....dont remember which division he's from hmmm oh I also know Retsu unohana, the one who heals, that ones the 4th division obviously and there's a scary guy for a captain over at 11th division I think it was za-zaraki?.....yeah...avoid that one! and-" The youthful girl I asked about the current captains rambled on until I interrupted.
"You said shiba? Is their name isshin?" I asked
The girl snapped her finger "that's the one! you got it!"
"Alright, thanks." I nod at her and walk off.
"SEE YOU AROUND!" The girl waved at my back.
I continue to subtly ask others about info.
"You gotta be careful now, word is that people are disappearing suddenly.....even in this district, one shinigami regularly frequents and they haven't found the culprit yet. I'm sure you get how crazy that sounds." The more mature older man running a jewelry shop states wearily.
"So the shinigami are currently investigating? and still cant find the culprit?" I sweat a little as I ask those questions.
"Yeah....but don't worry I'm sure they'll come up with something." The man tried to comfort me....and probably himself too.
"Hahaha...right.....sigh~ how troublesome~" I sounded out.
"Hey! you sound even older than me right there! You'll reach advanced age even quicker if your like that, young man." He playfully jabbed.
"Ah, I've been travelling for a bit sorry if I don't sound youthful~" I say lazily and playfully though my thoughts were more darker and alert 'This all screams aizen's hollowfication experiments! That girl said a 'captain hirako' exists, so shinji is still around and urahara probably is still with the 12th division too, kensei too...am I smack dab in the middle of the 'turn back the pendulum arc' of bleach that's atleast a 100 years before canon.....do I even want to get involved with this...' I thought gravely. 'No that's too much work I'd rather sleep in~' My thoughts turned a bit humorous.
"That right?" The old man answered "hey! I see you got a weapon on ya, let me guess! your planning to become a shinigami aren't you!" He cheerfully asks after squinting at the sword I have strapped to the small of my back. For some reason I find this placement works for me better than the side of the hip placement most shinigami have.
"Omg how could you possibly have figured out my secret~" I mocked playfully.
"Hehehe stop that, I wasn't born yesterday ya know!" the man laughed "Seireitei is right by us. I heard that the upcoming entrance exams for the Shin'o spirit arts academy is within a month from now!" The old man continues and then leans in "since your planning on joining a month from now I might as well hire you as protection in the mean time, lodging free of charge too until the academy opens up." The old man asks.
"Actually, that sounds pretty good. I was worried about where I can stay and get privacy around here. Your a life saver old man!" I state with appreciation.
"Hahaha don't sweat it. You can call me doraku! whats yours?" He asked my name.
"Rinkai, nemure rinkai. you can just call me rin" I answered. "I don't know how good of a guard I'll be but I'll do my best....as long as its not within sleeping hours. " I continued.
He nods "mm, don't worry the shop closes at around this time of day. that should be good for ya....unless your one of those that prefer sleeping in the day instead of night" He probes.
"Heh~ don't worry I'm not one of those special people." I reassure him
"Good! come, I'll show you where you can get your beauty nap~" He mimes as he finishes closing down shop, I just shake my head at that and follow him. We walk down the beaten path towards his abode as the sun in the sky finally shined its last bits of sunshine.
.....................
In the room the old man setup for me, A quiet and secluded room that has locked doors and windows for privacy. Perfect for sleeping in and for the process that I'm about to begin.
I place the asauchi on my lap and attempt to enter a meditative state...which was hard for me.....
Because every time I try to I nearly fall asleep!....I don't think the meditative state is akin to falling a sleep.....right?
regardless entering and maintaining a meditative state without drifting off would take some time to get it down. This is the only time where I curse my ability to quickly drop into a snooze in an instant no matter where and what my position is.
There is also another problem. I have no real idea on how to control and channel spiritual power. I would have to wing it once I reach that point but I'm aware that without proper instruction I can end up with bad habits or even mishaps due to mishandling this energy.
Spiritual power(reiryoku) is just the amount of energy an entity has. Spiritual pressure(reiatsu) is the emission and channeling of that energy into anything from attacks to pure intimidation techniques. so channeling ones reiryoku is just basically utilizing the process of reiatsu.
The more reiryoku one has, the more reiatsu an entity is able to exert, they're basically intertwined.
I look at the asauchi and then begin to try to enter a meditative state again-going completely still.....eyes closed.....breath calm...could it be!-
snooooore~
....................
The morning birds chirp.
"Ugh.....damn I fell asleep....this will take me a bit....." I got up off the bed I was sitting cross legged on, strapping my asauchi to the small of my back.
"yawn~ time to get to work...." I unlock my door and go out to meet my employer for the month.
"Hey! You finally made it out. Its about time to open up shop, your my protection detail remember hehe~" He laughed out.
"Ofcourse. Wouldn't miss this job even if the world was ending." I mimed.
"That's a bit exaggerated but that's great spirit!" He compliments...
We make our way to the shop quickly. This old man doraku's shop is just a basic jewelry shop with nothing special in it.
Still the customers come in because its not like special jewelry would fall upon peoples lap outside the seireitei anyway most just want something nice looking to wear occasionally.
I stand guard within the shops entrance as people from all ages walk in checking the stock and purchasing whatever they're feeling for this day.
Majority of the day is like that with breaks to go out and eat and I get paid handsomely at the end of the day for basically just standing around. A job perfect for the lazy man.
The days blurred between standing sentry at the shop and attempting the sword meditation practice.
On the 20th night of the month I was finally able to maintain the meditative state without being pulled into sleep but a problem still arises with how to exercise control of reiatsu I was doing something but I was not sure it was right....
I could feel that I was emitting reiatsu but it felt like there was no control or flow. I wonder if any of it was even flowing into the sword at all or just dispersing in the air
"Haaahhh~" I sigh as I exit my meditative state. "Maybe a bit of a walk would get me some form of inspiration." Instead of instantly hitting the bed out cold after this training like usual, I get up and make my way out.
Crossing into the living quatres of this old mans abode. honestly I feel a bit restless.......
Doraku spots me as I walk out "Hm? you not in bed already?" He questions in surprise.
I see Doraku sat in a chair tinkering with a few trinkets he picked up from another vendor-most likely testing to see if they would make good products to sell.
"Your usually out like a light by this time!" He continues.
"maybe tonight's special.....I dunno" I answered but I was definitely not all there for the conversation.
"Ah, you can't sleep then" He states as if it was a simple fact. To him it was but to me it was something else entirely....
"Yeah..."I answer but the restlessness flared up to new heights and I got the urge to check every corner of the house.
My hair standing on end. something is wrong.
The question is do I trust this in-born gut instincts. the answer is YES!
That old man still seeming oblivious to what's going on was about to comment again when-
My eyes sharpened-dashing with unbelievable speed! Managing to scoop up the old man and then jump straight through a window. making it outside just as-
SHING~ SHING~ SHING~
THE ENTIRE HOUSE WAS CLEAVED APART LIKE IT WAS BUTTER!?!?
THE HOUSE CRUMBLED DESTRUCTIVELY LIKE A JENGA GAME GONE WRONG!!!
Me and doraku took a roll as I stabilized the both of us we finally look up on the most unbelievable damage we just witnessed
Through out the smoke and debris only one thing stood out in contrast
a glowing white mask-A HOLLOW.
Our faces turned ashen.....
"H-h-h-h-h-hollow....." His shaky comment told a truth that none were willing to explain in that moment.
Because for all intents and purposes....we were really screwed!!!
My brain catapults into overdrive a decisive action formed faster than would be otherwise
"RUN!!! NOW!!! AND GET A SHINIGAMI!!" I shout in command.
"A-ah!! but y-you-" doraku tried to speak but was interrupted by a terrifying voice
"Fresh meat......EaSy pReY." The monstrosity said, its voice horrifically distorted, before disappearing on the spot.
My restlessness flared-I barely had time draw the asauchi before A BLADED CLAW SMASHED INTO IT.
A powerful force of reiatsu burst from the claw sending me flying "UUURGHHGGHH!!" my scream enveloped the entire clearing as I crash back first through a tree destroying it, only stopping on the second tree Where I slumped with blood spurting from wounds inflicted by that one attack-and that's with the attack blocked...
My breath taken Away. I breath heavily....Trying my best to move. only just barely....
doraku finally jolted out of his stupor "NO! RIN!" he shouted.
The hollow beside the old man ignored him as if he was a meal not worth savoring its eyes only on the juiciest soul within the vicinity. Its attention completely absorbed by rin.....its eyes gleaming.
Rin's spiritual power at this moment is a cut above average which makes an excellent meal for this starving hollow.
doraku stumbles before moving into a mad dash towards rin with unbelievable latent speed "RIIIIIIIN!!!"
He reached rins vicinity.....and its at this point the hollow had enough of delaying the inevitable.
woosh~
The hollow disappeared again...a testament to its more speed based, assassin like build.
Before doraku could shout anything more a shout of warning came from the very injured one he was trying to reach....
"DORAKU!-" but TOO LATE!
A flicker of a body appeared behind the shop owner!
"MoVe..." The distorted voice sounded out again before-
SHINK~
A horrifying sight appears in front of the eyes of the very restless soon to be shinigami.
Controlled reiatsu wafting off the body of this ravenous creature its very bladed claw punctured the old man with......complete ease.....
...........blood splattered.....the entire scene paused........
.........but it quickly resumed when-
SHIFF~
CRASH!
The hollow...tossed him aside like he was just a pure roadblock, an obstacle not worth much of anything........
The shock of this event triggers something in rin-his grip on the sword tightens exaggeratedly to the point of shaking.
As if a flick of a switch...like a pure enlightenment in the middle of pure terror......
No.......more like instinctively using the study material presented before him to finally achieve some results
Flowing pressure...........
Reiatsu envelops the body of the restless one before flowing on to the asauchi.......
clumsy and crude at best...but a start.
If one were to look up at the face of this restless one......there is only one expression
PURE MADNESS!
such an expression even gave the hollow a slight moment of pause before ultimately ignoring it and quickly moving in to feast-
SHING~
But a surprising twist happened!.........
A blink and the rin that was slumped down suffering from his injuries was no long there......
In fact he stood straight right behind the hollow.
The hollow was confused at first until it felt-
GUSH~
BLOOD SPRAYED FROM THE HOLLOW!!
.......A shallow cut, on birthed from the inexperience of handling reiatsu, but a wound nonetheless. The hollows pride would not let something like this go unanswered.
"YoUuUuU!" It flounders in anger before quickly turning and engaging what once was its prey in brutal combat.
The restless one didn't back down at all!
He swung! claw and asauchi clashed again in a shockwave only this time there was no push back. Standing his ground rin swung from the left only to be intercepted by one of the hollows claws again. He quickly ducks as the second claw comes out to swipe at his head he swung to parry another incoming claw "AAARRGHH!" with a scream rin quickly counters with a swipe at the hollows mid section-another shallow cut gushes with the hollows blood, enraging it even further.
don't let this scene fool you though, the rin fighting this terrifying hollow is quickly approaching his limit with the injuries he has already sustained....its only the thirst for vengeance and the guilt that's keeping him upright and still fighting-pure will.
A face filled with madness but the inner thoughts rang somber....
'......I attracted this hollow............I attracted..............' The self deprecating thoughts rang on repeat like a broken recorder.......
On the outside, a flash and the blade and claw clash again emitting a shockwave but then-
"COUGH!-" Rin exports blood from his mouth his limit within reach
He tumbles to the dirt, coughing up more blood......
The hollow pauses.....it watches...deciding not to consume immediately...as if a sign of respect given to the preys desperate struggle managing to just barely match it for this long. regardless it doesn't pause for too long.
The hollow quickly lunges-mouth agape, ready to consume. Expecting to see straight fear on its meals face but what it gets is just pure apathy something unexpected to this hollow.....but it was too hungry to care...ready to bite in.....just and inch from the fallen rin-
SHING!
A FLASH OF A BLADE!!!
Not the clumsy, inexperienced kind of rin but the kind that one would equate to a high level-expert in the craft-quickly and deadly.
The hollow pauses "WhA!!......" before it could complete a thought its body separated itself in 2 halves vertically from the top of the mask down to the bottom.
The hollows body starts.......disintegrating in to spirit particles(reishi), the material that makes up the entirety of soul society and its inhabitants, reishi mixing back with the very environment itself. The hollows entire figure disappears revealing another figure........
Rins eyes flicker in recognition that he quickly forces himself to mask...........
That figures eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, a somber look appeared on their face before quickly focusing back on rin
"I was too late......I'm sorry." the figures head bows with mourning, they're apology sounding like it comes from the very heart.
"Cough..." Rin coughs out more blood, the figure rushes to him assessing his injuries and attempting at immediate first aide...my conciousness fading but before it could fully go, one thought occupied it....the identity of his saviour......
Shiba kaien.
\\New series, new ideas! I put a lot of effort and thought into this one, hope you enjoy it. Don't worry I'm not giving up on my other fic, the Uchiha's path would definitely still get updates its just that I have another work aside it now, regardless comment your thoughts on this first chapter I would like to know what you guys think about it. see you in the next one!