Time seemed to slow down for Tatsuki ran for her mother, but both the Shinigami and the Hollow noticed something she did not a steadily increasing aura of reishi around her as the high-school student’s spirit became exposed.
The Shinigami was impressed as somehow the girl reminded her of herself both in action and in the level of her reishi; however the Hollow was salivating with expectation for the meal to come as the newly revealed morsel barreled right towards it. The monster rapidly lunged for the girl, as the Shinigami shouted at her to stop; however rather than being grabbed by the vile apparition Tatsuki leapt to avoid its grasp, and with a slight pivot an attempt to use the monster’s left arm to spring-board over toward its right arm and her free her captive mother.
Now whatever plan that Tatsuki had to rescue her mother, it didn’t likely include being knocked aside as she tried to set-up for a jump and being sent flying into the bouquet refrigerators in the back, thankfully not breaking through the Plexiglas doors. Still she recovered well enough in time to see the Shinigami slice into the Hollow’s right arm forcing it to drop Tatsuki’s mother as it recoiled in pain giving the agent of the Soul Society ample time to toss Tatsuki’s mother Yuka over to her daughter.
Concerned that her mother wasn’t moving Tatsuki began to frantically shake her, “Mom come-on wake up, please wake up!”
“Calm down, she hasn’t had her soul eaten, she’s fine,” the Shinigami shouted as she slid backwards into a ready stance with her sword and slowly stalked forward towards her quarry; which despite back-pedaling a few giant steps seemed to be deciding how best to get at the delicious soul that was so close it could almost taste it.
“What, I thought that you said Hollows ate souls?” the black belt asked, “Then why did it attack my home, and grab my mom?
“Hollows wander hunting for souls rich in spiritual energy,” the Shinigami continued as she succeeded herding the monster out into the street, “for that reason many living humans are sometimes attacked. I have never heard of a living human who could see and touch Shinigami, and given your high concentration of spiritual energy…it’s most likely looking for you.”
“So this means the reason my family’s shop was smashed,” Tatsuki stated in shock, “and my mom was hurt was all because of me.”
“Wait, I did not mean…” the Shinigami exclaimed as she made the crucial error of taking her eye off the beast that with a swipe knocked her about half a block down the street.
“Shinigami!” Tatsuki shouted out of concern for the spiritual being that was hurt defending her.
“That’s it,” Tatsuki proclaimed as she ran out the broken storefront while the Hollow’s attention was briefly diverted. After a brief sprint Tatsuki came to a stop halfway between the Hollow and the Shinigami except on the opposite side of the street, assumed a ready stance, and shouted, “Hey ugly you want me, come and get me.”
The beast whole-hearted took her up on her offer as it dived for Tatsuki dripping jaws first, the victim to be was preparing to duck and roll to the side hoping the monster would break its teeth on the road and give the Shinigami a chance to take it down when a shout rang out, “BAKA.”
Without warning the Shinigami bolted past her sword-first into the jaws of the Hollow, cutting deep into the middle of the beast’s face with her blade, but receiving a massive bite on her right shoulder, arm, and chest in the process.
“You idiot, you should have already known that your power was no match for it,” the Shinigami gasped as she fell to the ground bleeding when the Hollow recoiled clutching its mask in pain, “or did you think that your soul was enough to satisfy it.”
“Actually I was trying to make an opening for you to exploit and take that monster out.”
“To bad it didn’t happen, but that doesn’t matter right now,” the Shinigami continued, “as things stand I’m completely unable to continue fighting…now we are just waiting to become food.”
Tatsuki hit a nearby sign in frustration as she heard the Shinigami continue, “Do you want to live and possibly save us all.”
“Of course I do! Quick tell me, what do I need to do?” Tatsuki shouted.
Wrenching in pain the Shinigami turned over and propped herself up against the curb as she held up her blade. “Become a Shinigami, it’s the only way.”
“Tell me what I need to do,” Tatsuki stated calmly as she stood before the injured agent of the afterlife.
“Piece your chest with my zanpaktou,” the Shinigami calmly explained, “And I will lend you half of my spiritual energy. Of course this will only be temporary, but it will let you fight the Hollow on even ground; however this is not without risk given that you already possess a high amount of spiritual energy there is a chance you will die.”
“Well not time for second thoughts,” Tatsuki said as she steadied the blade of the zanpaktou, “let’s do this Shinigami.”
“Wait, my name is Kuchiki Rukia,” the now named Rukia stated.
“And I’m Arisawa Tatsuki;” she said with a smile, “let’s hope we survive past introductions.” And with that said Tastuki pulled the sword towards her piercing her body.
There was a sudden flash of light and the Hollow that was charging forward again recoiled in pain after having its left-arm sliced in two lengthwise, and was summarily decapitated mid howl. Meanwhile Rukia looked on realizing that…
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(Posted Wed, 15 Oct 2008 06:36)
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