Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ An Arrows Wind ❯ Detour ( Chapter 13 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: hinatastar
Aneko finds herself turning around, back into the fight when she comes in contact with Renji and Chad...only at a bad time.
Meanwhile, Orihime and Ichigo battle it out agianst a random Hollow.

Anime/Manga: Bleach Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Comedy / Drama / Romance | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.18.2008 | Pages: 5 | Words: 9.4K | Visits: 187 | Status: Work In Progress

I do NOT own Bleach or the places/things/characters from it. Only the OC

“Ok…so…which path do I take?” Aneko stood in front of a three way road. They all lead to different directions. “Aw…crap,” She didn't know where everyone was. At this rate she knew it would be impossible to find them as quickly as she had hoped.
“Damn…” She tapped her foot on the ground and glanced back and forth at the different paths she could take, “Ok…I guess this only means I have to use my last resort…” She then took a deep breath.
“Inney-minnie-miney-moe!” She felt like a child as she chanted the words. Once she said the last word her finger pointed towards the middle road, “Guess that's where I'm heading!”

“I see…” Rukia then replied as Uryu just finished explaining his story. “Either way…we should just continue on and hope…” He then said walking off. Rukia nodded and followed. She watched him as he walked ahead of her. She couldn't help but feel that something in his story made it difficult to explain. She wondered what it was and why.
“Tell me…” She then spoke. Uryu glanced back at her still walking, “What?”
She ran up to his side, looking up at him, “You never told me…Who were you with when all this happened?” Her sudden question made him stop walking. He pushed his glasses up, not making any eye contact with her, “Aneko…”
Rukia nodded, “I see…” Her voice drifted off. Uryu glanced at her, arching an eyebrow, “What…? What do you see?”
She smirked at him, “Nothing…” Her voice gave off the impression that she knew something he didn't.
“What…” He then asked. His voice seemed tight as his teeth clenched. He wanted to know what exactly Rukia was thinking.
“Forget it…” She began walking off.
“H-hey…! Wait a minute!” He ran in front of her.
“Uryu…we really don't have time to discus this…”
He shook his head, “I want to know what exactly you're thinking in that head of yours!”
She jerked her head to the side, “Nah…I don't feel like telling you.”
Uryu tightened his fist, “Tell me! You're driving me insane with this `I know what you don't' bull!” Suddenly she shot out a serious glance. Uryu tried keeping a serious look too but showed his nervousness. He wondered if he might have annoyed her with all the harassing.
“Uryu…if you can't tell…I'm not the one who should be saying anything,” She then walked off. Uryu stood their dumbstruck, “W-what…?” He didn't understand what that even meant, “H-hey…! Hold on!”

“I'm starting to miss the sun…” Orihime then announced sadly as they both walked down the street. Ichigo sighed, “Me too…”
She glanced up at him. A very faint blush showed on both her cheeks, “Ichigo…”
“Humm…?”
She began playing with her hair, biting her lower lip. He glanced at her and noticed the uneasy look on her face. “Is something the matter?” He then asked. She glanced back at him and took a deep breath. Just as her lips parted a loud crash was heard from a house near by.
“W-what was that!?” He then asked glancing at the house. The glass from it was shattered.
“I don't know!”
They both rushed towards the house. They glanced inside the window and noticed no one was even inside the house. “What the…?” Ichigo glanced to the side of the house. It had a pattern of claw scratches along it and ended at the door, “W-what the hell happened?”
“Ichigo!” He glanced back and noticed Orihime pointing at something far off in the sky. “Huh?!” He glanced up and noticed a Hollow with long bat-like wings flying high in the sky.
“Damn it!” He jumped on the roof of the home, which the Hollow came out from, and leaped high, swinging his sword towards it. Orihime gasped as she watched.
“Get back here you bastard!”
The Hollow noticed and managed to glide to the side, just missing Ichigo's blade. “Damn it!” Once he landed back on the roof the Hollow began diving towards Ichigo.
“Ichigo look out!” Orihime then warned.
Ichigo managed to hold it back using his Zanpakuto. It began pushing him towards the edge of the roof, “D-damn you…!” using all his strength he tried pushing the Hollow back and away from him.
“Ichigo…!” Orihime watched helplessly as he fought off the hollow. `There's got to be something I can do to help!' She ran close to the side of the roof where Ichigo was, glancing up, “Tsubaki!” She then summoned the fighter from her Shun Shun Rikka.
He flashed out like light and charged towards the Hollow. It managed to hit the Hollows wing causing it to fall back and allowing Ichigo to slice the Hollow in one shot.
“Got you!” Orihime then shouted.
Ichigo glanced down at Orihime shocked, his expression then changed quickly to being grateful and impressed.
He jumped down next to her, “Thanks, I owe you.”
“Don't mention it!” She then smiled. She felt glad that she was able to help Ichigo and that he was able to realize it.
“Looks like we need to be more careful and cautious…” He then stated. Orihime nodded, “Right…” She paused. Her mind kept telling her that they forgot something in all this. She began trying to figure it out as Ichigo placed his sword back. Her face then changed when she realized that they…have no jars. “Uhh…! Actually…” He glanced at her, “What is it?”
“W-well…we shouldn't try and come in contact with the Hollows,”
“W-what!?” Ichigo gave her a look as if she had two heads. Orihime noticed and bowed, apologizing, “It's just…we need these jars to stop the holes…and we don't have any…”
Ichigo's eye twitched, “And…you…waited…now…to tell me!?” He then asked trying to hold back the anger.
Orihime nodded feeling guilty, “S-sorry…I forgot…!”
Ichigo sighed and rubbed his head, “Well…there's nothing we can do about it now…”
Orihime glanced back down. She bit her lip wanting to cry. Ichigo noticed and quickly reworded his words, “I-I just meant that we'll have to go and find everyone else! C-com on…don't cry!”
Orihime shut her eyes preventing tears from reveling themselves, “I just…I feel like I've let you down…”
“Com'on…! You didn't! Listen…I'm sorry if I seemed up set…I'm not. Ok?” His voice was calmer and softer. Orihime glanced up and nodded. He sighed in relief and smiled back at her, “Let's go find everyone else, alright?”
“Ok…”

Aneko ran as long as she could manage but got tired after awhile and took a small rest. She had discovered a bench near by and sat there. She wasn't far from the park near the forest.
“I…Don't…know…h-how…athletes 230;do it!” She then managed to say as she panted, “Man…I'm outa shape here…” she sighed and gazed at the only thing she stared at now and then. It seemed that the dark covered sky was the only thing that comforted her at times. “What I'd do…to get one bite of food…” Her stomach began making sounds of hunger. She was relieved that no one was near to hear such a humiliating and disgusting sound.
Her attention changed when she heard the sound of a rusted swings being pushed back and forth by the wind. The sound was almost depressing…
“Hey! Let's go on the swings!”
“Yeah! Last one to the swings is a little baby!” Five kids ran towards the sets of swings. They giggled and laughed shouting, having fun.
They all then stopped when they noticed Aneko sitting on one of the seats. Her short orange hair gently swayed to the breeze, as it was pulled in two tiny pony-tails.
They looked disgusted,“Hey! Who said you can come to this park!?”
“Yeah!”
“No one invited you here!”
“But I…” She tired to speak. Her voice was weak and soft. A boy, from the group then pushed her off the swing, causing the other children to laugh. “Now get out of here! No one wants you near!”
She sat up and began rubbing her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. The kids continued to laugh and chant names, “Freak!”
“Loser!”
Aneko felt sudden tears roll off her cheeks, “Huh…?” She touched her left cheek with the tip of her finger and noticed the tears. “Why…why am I crying?” She wiped the tears away, “Stupid…stupid…that was long ago…”
“DAMN IT! WHY THE HELL DID I HAVE TO OPEN MY BIG MOUTH?!”
Aneko glanced to the side, from which the yelling came from and noticed Renji and Chad running up ahead towards her direction, “Huh…!?” She got up and walked in front of their path.
“Hey! Renji! Chad! How's it-” She noticed both their expressions. They were running from fear. “U-uhh…going?”
They noticed her and ran faster towards her. “Run Aneko!” Renji then shouted. She gave him a rather confused look, “What?!” Before she could even ask why, she noticed a huge worm-like Hollow chasing them. It was the biggest and ugliest Hollow she'd ever seen.
“WHAT THE HELL!”
They finally caught up to her, only to run right past her. Renji glanced back, “Hurry up and run you idiot!”
“A, r-right…!” Aneko quickly grabbed her weapon, with the worm just inches away.
“EW! It's so gross!” She ran fast, managing to catch up to Chad and Renji, just a couple of Centimeters behind.
“What the hell did you two do!?” She then yelled, still running for her life.
“Hey! Don't go blaming us! It was already here when we got…here!” Renji then shouted back. Chad then noticed a ditch on the side of the path and thought of an idea, “Renji look!”
“Huh?” He glanced at Chad and noticed the ditch as well, “Oh! Good idea!” He slowed down and ran next to Aneko.
“W-what? What's a good-?” Before she could finish her sentence she was pushed out of the way and into the ditch. Her body rolled uncontrollably into the muddy hole. Renji then threw himself in, only landing perfectly fine. Aneko sat up, dizzy and glared at him. Her entire wardrobe was covered in dirt and pieces of dead grass. “W-what the hell was that for, you-” She then noticed the worm slide right past them, it didn't even notice them in the ditch, “Eh…?”
Renji popped his head out as Chad continued to run. Aneko also watched, “C-Chad! We have to save him!”
“Wait!” She glanced back at Renji. She noticed the patience in his face. They both obviously had some sort of plan that she wasn't quite clued in on. She sighed and continued to watch, hoping it would work.
Chad then ran towards another ditch. This one was much thicker, deeper and longer. He managed to jump over it, tricking the worm. It fell right for the trap and into the hole.
Chad glanced back and noticed the Hollow was stuck. Because its enormous body, it got squished and began squirming. Chad then charged his arm up and with one blow killed it.
“Chad!” Aneko managed to get out of the ditch and ran up to him panting. Renji followed behind.
“Is everybody ok?” He then asked. Aneko nodded. She was glad to see she ended up finding someone.
Renji walked up to them and gave Aneko a questioning glare, “Aren't you supposed to be at your house?”
Aneko flinched, `Busted!' She glanced back at him and laughed nervously, “Well…I was going back home…and then I noticed you two…!” She lied. Renji gave her another glare, “Do you honestly think I'm that stupid?”
“U-uhh…!” She sighed giving up, “I was hoping you were actually…” She then murmured.
“Why did you come back?” Chad then asked. He didn't actually have a problem with her disobeying Ichigo or anything, he just found it interesting that she'd come all the way back. He knew there was a real reason after all.
“Err…well the truth is…I wanted to fight along side you guys…” She then admitted. Her voice sounded ashamed.
Renji and Chad gave each other a glance. They didn't know what to do with her. Do they leave her and continue on? Or do they take her with them and get Ichigo mad?
Renji was starting to think it was a good idea to bring her, to see the look on Ichigo's face…priceless. “Well…I know I don't have any problems with you tagging along,” Renji then replied placing his hands on his head. Chad hesitated, he didn't want her getting hurt because of a decision they agreed to, but agreed.
“R-really…!? YAY!” She shouted happy and excitedly, “You two won't regret this!” She then assured.
Renji sighed, “You slow us down and we'll ditch you!”
Aneko nodded understanding; a big goofy grin planted on her face. “Then let's go!”
“Wait,” She froze and glanced back at Chad, “What is it…?”
“Do you happen to have the jars on you?” She blinked a couple of times. Once she realized what he meant she shook her head, “No…”
Renji snorted and glanced away.
“…I don't have them…Uryu took them…” she then stated. Her fist tightened at the though of his name. She thought of him as a traitor.
“Well…looks like we have to go back and find him,” Chad then spoke. Aneko shook her head, “Hell no! If I go back chances are Ichigo will be there…!”
“Well that's your problem!” Renji then snapped. Aneko shot him a death glare.
“Please…don't make me laugh…” He then spoke.
Aneko frowned, “You dumbass! You're so heartless!”
He rolled his eyes, “Like I care what you even think…”
She screamed in frustration and looked away. Chad sighed. He waited there patiently as they both continued to argue, “Jerk!”
“Stop talking!”
“Make me, tough guy!” She then replied, intimidating Renji.
“Continue and I'll ditch you right now!”
Aneko stopped and glanced at him with a shocked expression, “Oh…what makes you think I care if you're here or not?”
“That's it!” He then began walking away, his lips moving as he mumbled words that weren't readable. Aneko laughed and glanced at Chad. He gave her a serious glance making her stop and gulp. “We don't have time for this…we have to find Uryu and get a jar…”
Aneko hesitated but nodded. She didn't want to actually avoid Uryu, but the thought of him agreeing to kick her out made it hard. They both then caught up to Renji (who wasn't that far ahead)
“Why is she still here?” He then asked. Aneko took a deep breath and let the insult pass.
“We need to find the others and get a jar…” Chad then replied. Renji sighed. There was no point in making a bigger fuss about it any longer, “Sure…whatever, anything to be able to fight one of theses strong Hollows”

They walked for, what seemed like several hours but was actually twenty minutes, till they reached the city. Aneko could smell the sweet scent of the bakery that had just opened near by. Her stomach began making hunger sounds again. She glanced at Chad and Renji hoping they didn't hear. Luckily for her they didn't. Both their backs still faced her as they walked a bit further.
 
She lightly sighed, patting her stomach, “Just hang on…” She then whispered.
The walk continued through the dead city. Chad and Renji stopped walking. They both glanced at a building, they where at a dead end. Aneko sighed irritated. Roads were just not on her side today.
“Now what…?” Renji then asked. Chad glanced behind them to see if there was anywhere else they could have gone.
“Why don't we take a break…?” Aneko then insisted. She was already exhausted from walking all day and the lack of food in her stomach was making it worst for her. Renji sighed, “Why don't you take the break…we can manage perfectly fine without you, kid.”
Aneko glanced at him, “Ok…first of all…not a kid…16 thank you…and second…I'm starting to regret find you!”
Chad-ignoring them-noticed the other side of the city. He knew the city was big and patience was required in a situation like this, “Let's go there…” He then spoke.
Renji and Aneko both glanced back at him and noticed him pointing towards a building that was far. It seemed to be one the other side of the city.
“But…! That's like seven blocks from here!” Aneko then whined.
“Heh, looks like you'll just have to live with it,” Renji then gripped as a grin showed. Aneko took a deep breath, letting it pass once again, “Fine…”
“If you are that tired…you should stay and rest,” Chad then offered. Aneko shook her head, “I'm alright. I don't want to be left behind…I feel like I can do something…”
“Yes…I know you can…” He then replied, “But your body isn't use to so much work…I can see it's asking for rest…” She glanced down at her body, `How can he tell?'She took it literally, “Well…I think we'll manage…a bit longer if have to.”
Chad nodded and walked off. Renji looked at her scratching his head. She noticed and gave him a confused glare, “What…?”
“I don't get you…”
“What's not to get?” She then questioned. He began walking off following Chad, “First you say that you want us to take a break…in fact you insisted we took one…but…once offered…you reclined it,” Aneko walked beside him. She realized what he stated was a fact. She didn't quite understand it either but shrugged, “Meh…I'm a complicated girl,”
“You're telling me…” He then sighed.

“You know…your childish acts aren't making you look so high and mighty right about now…!” Uryu then stated as he followed Rukia down the city sidewalk.
 
Rukia sighed, “Who says I'm the one acting childish?” She then questioned, “I am merely pointing out the obvious,”
Uryu pushed his glasses up with his index finger, “Yes…clearly…”
“Good. I'm glad you finally agree with me…”
“W-what!? I wasn't being serious! It's called sarcasm!” He then shouted. He was getting tricked every second with her into looking like an idiot. “L-let's just drop this stupidity!”
Rukia smirked and nodded in agreement, “What I was thinking.”
They both noticed a corner by the street and began walking towards it, hoping it would lead to another street and if lucky…to a Hollow.
“Let's check that side of the street. I think that might lead to the second part of the city,” Chad then spoke. Renji and Aneko followed. They began heading towards the corner that caught Chad's attention.
Once both groups reach the turning point of it they bumped into each other. Shocked and surprised expressions could be seen in each of their faces, “R-Rukia?” Renji then asked.
“Of course…!” She shouted, “Who else could it be!?”
They all paused for a moment. It was like they weren't suppose to ever see each other again and they somehow did through some weird magical theory.
“W-what are you guys doing here?” Uryu then asked. He then noticed Aneko as well, “And what the hell is she doing with you!?”
Aneko pouted and looked away, “What? I'm not aloud to do what I want!?”
“Of course you are! But…didn't Ichigo tell you to stay home?!”
She nodded, “But I know what I want to do…I want to help!”
He sighed. He knew he should have expected this much from her. After all…Aneko was Aneko.
“Aneko…you know this is dangerous…even for us” Rukia then explained. She tried to sound polite rather than harsh. Aneko nodded, a huge smiled could be traced on her face. “But that's why I want to help. Ichigo just needs to learn that I was given spiritual power for a reason…” She glanced back at her weapon, “Even…if it isn't a lot of power…I know like everyone else…I can learn to make it better to, with lots of hard work, of course…”
Rukia nodded understanding where Aneko came from. The determination and will to help others, it was like most of them right now. Even Ichigo was still struggling to become better than he is now. “Well then…I'm not your boss…so I can't say what you do and when,” She then replied.
“But…” Uryu gave a worried look. He knew she wasn't experienced with fighting. This was probably her first battle…real battle. Before he could continue on with his thoughts on all this, he noticed she was ready to say something back. “Listen…I know that I'm not…well-prepared…but I think this would make me better…besides…do you actually think I can sit still while my friends are all putting their lives at risk? Even though I know I could be doing something to help?”
Uryu sighed. He knew exactly what she meant. It's hard to stand still with patience, when someone you know and care about is fighting for others or even for themselves all alone. “Yeah…I get you,” He then replied. He could see the light smile on her face. He could even see the fear in her eyes but that was natural…even he had some fear.
“Thanks…”
Uryu then remembered about the jars. He glanced at Chad, “Chad…do you have the jars on you?” He looked at him for a moment and nodded, “Yes…” He then pulled out the single jar out from his baggy pocket.
Renji glanced at him shocked and surprised, “W-what?! You mean to tell me you actually had one on you this whole time!?” Uryu smiled in relief. Renji continued to yell and swear in the background.
“Do you only have one?” Uryu then asked. Chad nodded, “Yes…we were only given two…”
Uryu grabbed the two jars he had and placed them on the floor. Chad also placed his down. They both knelt down as everyone else gathered around and glanced at the three jars.
“I don't get it…if you two were given two…and Aneko and I were given three…that only adds up to five…” Uryu then stated.
They all realized that the calculation must have been wrong. “How can we only have been given five?” Aneko then asked.
Rukia sighed, “Looks like Urahara ripped you off…”
“Why would he only give us five when we need seven?!” Aneko then shouted.
Uryu stood up; he glanced down at the jars, “Well…looks like we've defeated two hollows…now we need to get the other two jars from Urahara and continue on from there…”

Meanwhile, Urahara sat in a room plain room with a long, dark table. He glanced at the two jars that sat on the table in silence.
They both were much bigger and looked more ancient than the ones the others had. His serious look pierced at them as he concentrated on only those items, `Looks like…I'm gonna have to deal with these two myself…' He stood up and prepared to take his leave.

“I can't understand why we haven't seen any Hollows yet…” Rukia then spoke in thought.
After taking one last detour together in the city they took a break, (mostly because Aneko's constant whining and complaining) on the grassy hill that caught their attention.
“Ahh…isn't this: The life?” Aneko then asked as her legs stretched out. She Laid on her back and watched the sky. Uryu sat up, along with Chad. Rukia and Renji stood and watched the city from the hill. Nothing was happening and they soon began to think nothing will ever happen.
“We shouldn't be here doing nothing…” Renji then stated. He began pacing back and forth.
“Well…my legs were killing me…I just thought it'd be nice to relax for a bit!” Aneko then replied back, still maintaining her position. He glanced at her irritated, “Man…you really do complain a lot…don't you?!”
She rolled her eyes and closed them. She tried blocking out all the things around her and go in her own special place…even if for a second.
“It must be night time by now…” Rukia then stated. Because the clouds where so thick and dark, no one could tell the difference in the day anymore.
“Let's just go and get those stupid jars…” Renji then spoke. Rukia sighed and walked out towards him, “Yes…I guess we should be starting now…”
Chad got up, stretching his arms. Uryu then glanced at Aneko. He noticed the peaceful expression that showed on her face. He knew as well as she did that she was exhausted but to stubborn to go back home. “Aneko…”
She opened her eyes and glanced at him, “Humm…?”
He lightly smiled and got up, “We need to go now,”
Her peaceful expression changed to an upsetting frown, “Really…?”
He nodded and pulled his hand out. She sighed and sat up. She took a quick glance at the sky and took his hand. Once she was standing Renji began walking off, “Let's go…all my energy is dying just watching you guys rest!”
They all followed and began heading to the Urahara Shop.

I know it was sort ofshort...sorry. But I'll update soon! Plz review!