InuYasha Fan Fiction / Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Death Is Only The Beginning ❯ Chapter Seven ( Chapter 7 )

Disclaimer: I own neither Inuyasha nor Bleach nor any of their characters. Those belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Tite Kubo, respectively. I only own any original characters that may appear.

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Death Is Only The Beginning

Chapter Seven

Two days after Kagome's discharge she returned to her classes at the academy. It had taken her a while to find someone who could watch after Aya during the morning and early afternoon. But she had been relieved, and more than a little surprised, when her captain came to her and told her that Captain-Commander Yamamoto had offered to let the young girl play in his office while she was in class. Captain Kyouraku explained to her that Yamamoto occasionally took special interests in certain shinigami since he'd never had any children of his own.

When Kagome entered the lecture hall of her first class she noticed a distinct change in the atmosphere. She had been on good terms with most of her classmates and would often be stopped to chat for a moment before class started. But as Kagome descended the steps to take her usual seat she noticed that all conversation had stopped. She felt awkward and embarrassed as the sound of her steps was the only thing heard in the large hall.

She sighed with relief when she finally reached her seat, but immediately tensed again when she noticed that the area around her was vacant. In every direction, several seats were left empty. Nobody was sitting within ten feet of her. Kagome looked down, pretending to review the notes she'd taken from the last time she'd attended the class. For the first time since she'd started traveling in Japan's Feudal Era, Kagome felt like an outcast.

Class continued as normal once their teacher arrived, and Kagome tried to concentrate on the lecture instead of the heavy gazes she felt boring into the back of her head. The class seemed to stretch on forever and by the time they were dismissed the air had grown heavy with silent tension. Her fellow classmates cleared the room in record time and she was finally able to breathe a little easier when she was alone. Taking her time to stack her books and notes neatly, Kagome felt a small bit of hesitancy when she thought of entering the crowded halls again.

As soon as she stepped from the classroom, a firm grip wrapped around her wrist startling her so badly that she almost dropped her books. She stumbled for a couple of steps when she was tugged in the opposite direction of where she needed to go. When Kagome found her footing she looked up to see crimson hair pulled up into a high ponytail. “Renji?” Her voice cracked into the next octave in her shock. “Where are we going?”

“Shut up,” he snapped over his shoulder. “You're playing hooky from your next class. I'll tell them it's official shinigami business if anyone asks, but you and me need to have a talk.” Kagome had never seen Renji so serious before. He was usually a little grumpy and would throw insults her way before she would reciprocate, but that was just how things were between them. But now, as she was dragged behind him through the halls, she could tell that he was more tense…more rigid than usual. His voice held none of the easy teasing that she'd grown accustomed to. And so she followed him without objection.

Several minutes later Kagome was pushed to sit on the ground at the base of a tree. They had entered a wooded area outside of the academy before Renji had dragged her from a well worn path and into a small clearing within the trees. “Where are we?” She tried to ask again after setting her books aside and looking up at the much taller male. Renji was avoiding her eyes and she could tell that there was something weighing on his mind. This was a different side of Renji that she had never seen before, and she decided to hear what he felt he needed to say once he organized his thoughts.

Renji sighed as he ran a hand over the top of his head and propped the other on his hip. He felt incredibly awkward about his reasons for dragging Kagome to the secluded area that they were in. “I used to come out here when I was in the academy with Kira and Hinamori,” he explained. Finally making eye contact, Renji started, “Look…I heard about what happened. I wanted to…” He faltered in his words. “I just…” He tried again before frustration came over him and he dropped into a seated position a few feet from Kagome. “Why is this so damn hard?” He yelled as he buried his face in his hands with a growl.

Kagome was about to comment until Renji looked at her once more, his brown eyes reflecting a fierce determination to say what he came to say. Renji narrowed his eyes a fraction before asking, “Why were you taking care of those kids in the Rukongai before I dragged you here?”

Shocked by his frank question, Kagome was silent for a moment before she said, “Because they needed me.” And that was the truth, but she knew that it went beyond that simple answer. “They were alone…but so was I,” she admitted softly before finding more strength in her voice. “They needed someone to love them and I needed someone to love.”

Renji listened to her answer before saying, “I'm from the Rukongai, too—District Seventy-Eight. And I can guarantee that where you lived was a damn sight better than that hell-hole. But we found ways to make it work. We were all orphans just like your kids.” Renji took a breath before he continued, “Nobody cared enough to take care of us. So I guess I respect what you did out there. And I hate how it turned out, but that's just part of how things work here. It's not always fair, but some people make it and others just don't.” Renji paused again and Kagome could tell that this was a hard conversation for him to have. “I lost a lot of friends, but I still had Rukia. We decided to become shinigami together because we were all we had left. Then Byakuya took her away from me, too…”

Kagome watched as the red-head fell silent and his fists clenched in his lap. “Renji, why are you telling me—?”

“I'm not finished yet,” he interrupted as he held up one hand to stop her. “I know you lost those other kids, but you still have that one little girl. You're all each other have left now, understand?” Renji watched as Kagome nodded silently. “You have to make sure nobody comes between that!” He stressed and Kagome leaned back slightly at his outburst. “Now as for all of those idiots in the academy, I say screw `em. Everybody's been talking about what happened; about what you did after the Hollows were gone. A lot of people feel threatened by you now, and that goes double for the people you're in classes with. You showed them that you're stronger than any of them could ever hope to be and they're intimidated. And you might not be able to control all of it yet but that's why you have to ignore the jealous people and practice that much harder. You can show those rich punks that anybody can rise through the ranks and protect the people they care about most. You got that?”

Kagome was a little in awe of Renji. She had to admit that she'd known almost nothing about the rough shinigami, but now she saw that for all of their bickering they actually had a lot of common ground. She knew that she had been distant from everyone, including Aya, of the last several days, and she knew that it was because of the guilt that still weighed on her heavily at not being able to protect her small family. Things were also bound to have gotten worse once she was designated as the pariah among her classmates. But Renji was right. She hadn't lost her family; she and Aya still had each other. They would be able to try again within the safe walls of the Court.

Kagome looked at Renji as he waited for an answer to his question. The longer he waited, the more prominent a small blush on his face was becoming. Finally, Kagome smiled as she said, “I understand. Thanks, Renji…I really needed to hear that.”

“Good,” he huffed as he crossed his arms across his chest.

Once everything had been said they continued to sit in silence, neither sure what they were supposed to do. The air between them steadily grew thick and uncomfortable causing them both to fidget and avoid eye contact. “Renji?” Kagome finally tested. At his acknowledging grunt, she continued, “We…we just had a bonding moment, didn't we?”

There was a short pause before Renji grumbled, “I think so.” But he quickly recovered as he defended, “But if anybody asks, I'll deny it, demon woman!”

“Same here, jerk,” Kagome answered in kind before they each stood and went their separate ways.

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The stressful day had eventually ended and Kagome was returning home with Aya after a nice supper. As she watched the girl hum a small tune while they walked hand-in-hand, Kagome realized that things were already getting better.

When she saw Lieutenant Ise approaching them from ahead, Kagome stopped to bow to one of her commanding officers. As Nanao began speaking Kagome never noticed Aya's small hand slip out of her own.

Aya ignored what the adults were talking about in favor of taking in all there was to see around her. The Court of Pure Souls was so different from where she'd lived in the Rukongai. When her eyes landed on an area of lush greenery down a street to their right, she allowed her hand to leave Kagome's in favor of exploring. Even in the dark of night she could see colorful flowers illuminated by the moon. `Kagome needs new flowers in her vases,' she thought very pleased with herself for helping decorate their new home together.

When Kagome finished her discussion with Lieutenant Ise about reporting to Captain Kyouraku in the morning instead of going to class, she tightened her hand only to realize that a tiny hand was missing. Panic immediately set in as she scanned the area for any sign of Aya and her breath caught in her throat when the search came up empty. “Aya?” She shouted and waited for a response. For a moment she feared that the child had been abducted, but she quickly dismissed the notion after reasoning that either the lieutenant or herself would have notice such a thing. `But neither of us noticed Aya wandering away,' she berated in her mind.

Knowing that the little girl couldn't have wandered very far, Kagome looked around again for likely distractions. When she caught sight of a wooded area with some wildflowers, she was all but positive that was what had likely called to Aya.

With a large handful of various flowers, Aya continued to wander between bushes and trees. When she stumbled past the tree line and into a large open area, she paused to stare at the sight before her. The area sloped upwards, and at the top of the hill sat an odd individual leaned against a large tree. He appeared to simply be talking to the moon.

Kagome wove her way through the foliage looking for any sign of her charge and felt relief wash over her as she spotted a flash of the girl's yellow summer kimono. Stepping from the trees, she quickly pulled Aya into her arms and held her tightly. “Aya!” She exclaimed as she finally felt her heart calm in its frantic beating. Pulling away just enough to look into honey eyes, Kagome scolded, “You know that you shouldn't wander away from me like that. I was so worried! What if you had gotten lost or hurt—” But she was cut off when small fingers pressed against her lips.

“Shh,” Aya insisted as she pressed a single finger to her own pursed lips. “You're not supposed to interrupt people, Kagome.” Kagome looked to where Aya had pointed on the hilltop. “What do you think he's doing?”

“I don't know,” Kagome answered as she released the girl and got back to her feet. “But we should leave him alone and head home. It's almost bedtime,” she informed and waited for Aya to take her hand again.

But unfortunately, Aya was intensely curious about the man on the hill. He seemed lonely. Ignoring Kagome's call to stop and the hand that tried to grab her wrist, Aya jogged up the hill until she was only a few feet away from the large individual. “Hello,” she greeted as she examine him from up-close. “Why do you look like a wolf?”

Kagome had scrambled up the hill after the quick child and had nearly choked when she heard the girl's frank yet innocent question. But her eyes widened almost painfully when she realized that Aya might have just insulted a captain that she'd yet to meet. “Aya,” Kagome said sharply when she finally reached the girl. “That's not a polite question,” she chastised. Turning towards the large captain, Kagome bowed deeply as she apologized, “I'm very sorry, Captain, for disrupting your peace and any disrespect or offence. I assure you that it was not intentional.”

Komamura had bristled and tensed slightly when two strangers approached him while he had his helmet removed. In the solitude of the clearing he'd thought that he wouldn't be seen. But as his sharp amber eyes settled on the girl called Aya, he could see the question still shining in her large eyes. “Are you not frightened of the way I look, child?” He questioned.

Aya blinked in confusion for a moment before shaking her head. “Kagome always says that you should never judge someone on how they look. You should get to know who they are on the inside first!” She beamed before becoming sheepish once more and admitting, “Besides, I like your ears.”

A small grin caused the corner of Komamura's wide mouth to twitch slightly. Looking at the strange little girl who had approached him, he said, “Then Kagome is a very wise person. What is your name?”

“I'm Aya,” the usually shy girl chirped. There was something about the gentle giant that put her at ease. Aya then motioned towards her guardian as she said, “And that's Kagome!”

Kagome had to admit that she was a little nervous as the captain extended a large hand towards her. “I am Sajin Komamura, Captain of the Seventh Division,” he introduced.

“Kagome Higurashi,” she returned in kind. “I am an unseated member of the Eighth Division.”

A deep rumble escaped Komamura's chest before he said, “Yes, I've heard many people speak highly of you, Miss Higurashi. You've caused quite a stir within several divisions.” He laughed deeply as the petite woman blushed deeply in embarrassment. “And if what you are teaching this child is any indication, I would say that your influence is a very good thing. This world could use more people like you.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Kagome smiled as she bowed her head. Straightening, she said, “I'm very pleased to have met you and I hope to see you again, but it's getting late and it's already past Aya's bedtime. Captain-Commander Yamamoto has meetings tomorrow, so I'm going to have to get her up early in order to find someone who can watch her while I have a meeting with Captain Kyouraku.”

“Things are usually very tame within my division and I like children; they're honest. I wouldn't mind watching after young Aya if you have no problems with her being around someone such as myself,” Komamura offered.

“You mean someone with a gentle heart who happens to have a little more hair on their head than most people?” Kagome asked gently and smiled as a large amount of tension seemed to melt out of the captain's shoulders. “I don't see a problem with that at all.”

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The next morning, Kagome delivered Aya to the gentle giant of a captain—which earned them several odd looks—before making her way back towards the Eighth Division offices. When she stepped into the office that her captain and lieutenant shared, she wasn't surprised to see that Lieutenant Ise was the only one at her desk. Smiling at the older woman, Kagome asked, “Do you know where he is today or do I need to hunt him down?”

Nanao stopped in her work to look at Kagome before her shoulders slumped slightly and she pointed towards the ceiling. “He's in his usual hiding spot,” she sighed. It was too early in the morning to start chasing after the man who avoided his work like the plague.

Kagome smiled and gave her thanks before she made her way to the roof. Walking carefully across the terracotta roofing tiles, Kagome stopped to stand beside her lazing captain and wait for his acknowledgement.

“Good morning, Kagome,” Shunsui greeted in a leisurely voice. Tipping his straw hat out of his face, he squinted against the early morning sun before saying, “Lie down and get some sun while we talk.”

With a slight roll of her eyes, Kagome settled herself on the tiles that were already being warmed by the sun. “Are you sure you don't want me to lie down so that you can stay in the shade of your hat?” She questioned with a dubious glance.

Her answer came in the form of a deep chuckle and a “Perhaps.” The two relaxed under the sun's rays for several moments before Shunsui spoke again, “So I heard that you made another friend last night.”

“Word sure travels fast around here,” Kagome mumbled before directly addressing her captain's comment. “Yes, Aya and I met Captain Komamura on our way home from supper.”

Shunsui hummed softly before asking, “Was he wearing that helmet of his?”

“No, and I was so worried that Aya had offended him when she came right out and asked why he looked like a wolf,” Kagome groaned in a mortified voice. But when she heard Shunsui laughing, she continued, “But he was very nice about it. He's actually the one watching her today since Lieutenant Ise said that you wanted to meet with me about something.”

“Ah, yes…” The relaxed captain hummed as he tilted his hat up just enough to make eye contact with Kagome. “Well at first we thought that it might be a bit soon for you, but in light of recent events, me and Old Man Yama have agreed that you should get some experience out in the living world.” At Kagome's surprised expression he explained, “It's something that all academy students go through, though they usually go in a big group. But it's also something that division members do as well, and we think you're ready for your first big assignment.”

Kagome quickly sat up and openly stared at her captain. She would be lying if she said that the thought didn't scare her. She was still in training and it wasn't that long ago that she'd lost all control of her powers. “But I have no idea what to do!” She objected. “I haven't been to the living world since I was…well, alive! And what about Aya? I can't take her with me.”

Shunsui sat up as well and placed a large hand on Kagome's shoulder to calm the young woman. “All you have to do is stay in the living world—with one of the contacts we have there—for one week. You'll perform Soul Burials for any wandering spirits you find and perhaps cleanse a few Hollows if they appear. Then you'll come back here, write up a report, and turn it in to me.” He smiled as he looked into her still nervous eyes. “You'll be fine, Kagome. You're more than capable enough to handle it. And if you need a crash course in what to do, I hear that Kisuke is pretty good at that sort of thing,” Shunsui finished as he chuckled to himself.

Taking a slightly shaky breath, Kagome nodded before saying, “But what about Aya? Finding someone to watch her for an afternoon is one thing, but everyone I know is too busy to take care of a little girl for a whole week.”

“Kagome, you've made many friends in high places. I'm positive that Aya will be well cared for until you return,” Shunsui smiled wider as he gently squeezed Kagome's small shoulder. “So what do you think?”

Kagome thought for a moment before solidifying her choice. “Well,” she began, “if you're sure that it won't be a problem to look after Aya…and I suppose this is sort of a mission…I guess I have to say: when do I leave?”

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AN: Another chapter down. This one is one page and almost 1,000 words longer. Still a fairly short chapter, over all. I think this one may be the shortest so far in the story. There was something that I wanted to say down here, but I honestly can't remember what it was. Oh! Wait, yes I do! I created a new deviantArt account specifically for this penname. (I wanted to keep my main account separate.) If you would like to friend me, my username is ConIncon. I tried using ConsistentlyInconsistent, but it was too long. I have several pieces of fanart that I plan to do for different scenes within this story (yes, I have to do my own fanart…it's so sad) and they'll be posted to that account. Though one particular piece that I'm super excited about doing won't be posted for quite a while since it would have HUGE spoilers in it. Well, as usual, thank you for reading and be sure to let me know what you think of the new version!