"Morning"
The sun seemed to be unusually hot this day, using my hand as shade wasn't helping. Strolling down the street was worsening it too. Not a drop of rain in three days, oh how I wish for a drop.
"Hey!"
Turning I saw an old man with a sycle waving it as he ran. Chasing three kids with barrels of water, coming down my way. Just as he was about to catch them a young girl tripped him.
"Come on!"
The four now began to run away as the man fell. Seeing them run into an alley, the man rised looking for the kids. Spotting me he approached me with a sour look.
"Hey! Do you know where those brats went!?" He yelled
"No unfortunately I don't"
"What great help you are!"
He then ran off to find them if it meant he died in the heat. Seeing him disappear, I saw the young girl keeping watch from the alley entrance. I waved at her, but she seemed to be startled and left.
"I'm scary looking?"
Continuing my stroll though the heat, sweat began to run down my face. My throat was also dry I needed water, and the streams in the forest were too far.
"Hey!"
A voice shouted as my head was struck by a pebble. Looking up I saw that girl from before, she had dark hair and purple eyes. Her face in a pout as if upset about something.
"You didn't have to do that you know!" She shouted
"Do what?"
"Don't play dumb! You told that old geezer you didn't see us!" She shouted in anger
"Oh my I must be confused by this heat then" I said looking at the sun shading myself with my hand
She pouted crossing her arms, looking away.
"Do you want water?"
"Oh if you wouldn't mind"
I followed her to a small shack where a small group of kids sat in. One had bright red hair, and was obviously angry.
"Rukia! What do you think you're doing!? Bringing a grown up here!?" He roared
"He saved us! And we should return the favor!" She shouted back
He bit his tongue after that crossing his arms in defeat. Rukia apparently sighed as she gave me a cup of water. I sat with the kids as the hit was surprisingly cool.
"So how long you gonna stay?" One asked
"In the district? Til the heat wave ends then I'm back on the road"
"It always rains after" Renji whispered
"Really?"
It would seem that I would be staying in this district for awhile. The heat was too brutal the travel in, and the mud always ruined my shoes and the trail was even worse.
"So what's your name?" Rukia asked
"Kakashi Hatake, yours?"
"Rukia" she said with confidence
"And yours?"
"...Renji" he answered hesitantly glaring at me
The kids sat around due to the heat, and I would usually do my exercises. I watched the day pass by silently.
"Why you wandering the districts?" Rukia asked
"Don't have much to do, might as well"
"It's dangerous" Renji spoke up
"So is stealing"
His face winced at that commented as he scratched his cheek. I chuckled at his reaction, leaning against the frame of the door as I tried to relax. A small breeze would come and go, the gentle rustling of the trees. Then came the rain it poured after the heatwave. It seemed to be never ending, though it cool down the weather. The children were laughing and splashing in the rain puddles. We would leave only to get food and whatever to drink.
"Hey look guys!" Rukia shouted
The young girl held a orb of spirit energy. It was fairly large for her, but Renji stood with a tiny orb of red energy in hand.
"Don't worry, you'll get better just need practice" I tried reassure
He remained in that sour mood as he stared angrily at the orb. Rukia seemed to flaunting her ability, their other friends looked in awe.
The next day the rain stopped and the weather returned to normal. Walking into the market with a book I had found. It was pleasant as Rukia and Renji followed close behind with their friends.
"Why do you always read books, old man" Renji asked
I winced at the question, I wasn't that old. Or I don't I was, this place had thing of making you forget about time.
"You should read more, it'll do you some good"
"Umm" Renji said
"What is it?"
"Renji can't read" Rukia answered
"I can read! It just takes me awhile!" Renji shouted in anger
Sighing as I saw a small book shop, grabbing what books I could. Giving them the books they glanced at one another.
"What are these for!?" Renji asked
"I'm going to teach you how to read"
"Huh!? What for!?"
"Cause you need it, if you can't read you won't make it anywhere else" I said raising my voice which was enough to quite them
We then returned to the hut where I then began to teach them to read. Rukia was a fast learner as expected, but Renji did have trouble.
"I don't understand this!" He shouted
"Just sound it out"
Growling he did as instructed reading the words slowly. Making the sounds of each letter then saying the word completely. I would be spending more time with the orphans than expected. Gazing over at the Seireitei still feeling that same importance, as if I needed to get in.
"Still curious?"
That same voice at this point I had given up on where it came from. Though not free of complete curiosity, and every once in awhile I would answer it.
"Unfortunately yes"
"Hmmm why not find out?"
"I can feel strong energy behind the walls, if I get behind there now I might as well be dead"
"Reasonable, but I can feel you still want to know"
I stood silent with my own thoughts, until Rukia spoke to me.
"Who are you talking to?"
"No one, just myself"
"Renji's right...you are old"
"I'm not that old"
The stars were breathtaking always, I would train while the kids would sleep. Concentrating my spiritual energy figuring ways on how to use it. Even mimicking my old lightening techniques, my swordsmanship was steadily getting better. The hardest was trying to retrain my eyes to handle the Sharingan. The power was strong making me cry blood, but it was something that I would need if I wanted to survive.
The next day came, and if I had knew what would happen. I would've been more vigilant, taking my normal strolls through the market I saw a small sweet shop.
"Maybe I should get them something they have been trying hard"
A strong dark energy washed over me, my body tensed at the touch, a cold chill went through my body. I glanced hurriedly in different directions. Soon feeling both Renji and Rukias energy spike, massively as if panicked. Following the clear path the dark energy basically layed out a trail.
"I need to hurry"
Running as fast as my legs could carry me, I was instantly pushed forward. Stumbling as I stopped, calming down trying to figure out what it was. Running once more I did it again, focusing my energy to my feet. I was pushed forward as I took a step, doing it again I was making massive distances in a single step.
Wearing me out I stopped taking a breath. Looking up seeing Rukia with a bloody Renji, and in front of them a hollow. It had a bull shaped mask, and massive limbs, chuckling as it stared them down. As it was about to strike Rukia I flashed over blocking the attack with my blade. It was strong making me struggle, as I pushed trying to stop it.
"Ruki! You alright!?"
"Y-yes, but Renji"
"Take him get out of here!"
She hesitated for a moment stuck in her fear.
"Now!"
Waking her up she grabbed the boy and ran with what strength she had. Holding the beast in place, making sure to feel if they had left.
"Hehe you should really focuse on me"
I glared at the hollow, suprised it could speak. I then pushed it's fist away to get some space in between. It chuckled at my retreat, looking for an opening I didn't see much. A hollow who is more focused on physical strength, not very smart either, but nonetheless going to be hard to defeat.
It raised his fist slamming down, dodging I jumped slashing at its shoulder. My blade only skid off making a few sparks, it's hide hard as iron. Landing behind it, as a backhand came at me. Just barely blocking, I flew into a tree getting back up. Flashing away before another strike could hit, the tree crashed to the ground. Appearing in the back I slashed at his back again no damage.
"Damn"
I fell standing as it turned chuckling as he felt my attempts.
"You puny blade can't cut my skin"
Examining his body he didn't seem to have a weak point. Charging I jumped out the way, as it crashed into the ground. I couldn't keep this up I would have to stand my ground sooner or later. Throwing another powerful punch, I flashed above him looking I brought my blade down. Only a chip flew off the edge of the mask, as he finally struck me in the side. My lungs were knocked out of breath, as it got close to me it smiled raising its palm.
"You need to fight"
"I don't think I can"
"You can, you just need a little help, say my name"
"What?"
"You know my name, you've known since you received me now speak it"
"Talking to yourself? Near death must be driving you crazy let me end it for you"
My grip tightened on the hilt, as I glared at him. As its palm came down I struck.
"Howl, Los Lobo!"
A strong shock of thunder sparked out, kicking up a massive dust storm.
"Roar!"
The hollow roared in pain as it clutched its shoulder. As the dust cleared revealing that its arm was cut off. He turned to face me as it's eyes widen, I stood motionless. Feeling a strange sensation glancing down, I saw my blade had transformed. Now wielding two Chinese hook swords.
"I give you my fangs"
"You will pay for this!"
It charged as I swung slicing its last arm off, but then it used its head to smash it into my own. Falling to the ground, one of my hook blades was caught in its jaw.
"Hehe got your blade"
"Not a good idea"
"Uh?"
"Chain Lightning"
A massive charge of lightening shot at his head killing the beast. I staggered to one of my blades, gripping them. As I did they returned to their original state, simple katana. As I returned it to its sheath a surge went through me. As I fell to the ground a small amount of blood ran down my face.
"Impressive"
As I began to loose conciseness a line of black kimono came into my blurry sight. Then blackness covered my vision.