Chapter Text
Returning home I was faced with yet another surprise. Mom was't there. I considered the possibility she went looking for me but everything in my room was exactly the way I left it and I had no missed calls on my cellphone so that left only one other explanation. She didn't come back home from the meeting which meant she never found out neither that I was missing for a few hours nor that I had listened in on her conversation with the eccentric shop keeper.
Guilt washed over me. How disappointed would she be if she knew of my behavior. Well she shouldn't have kept secrets from me either. I may not understand much and I may be exhausted at the moment and possibly still flustered and confused from the kiss but even in my present condition I could tell that whatever she was hiding from me was of great importance and involved me as well.
I walked over to the kitchen opening the fridge only to find it was empty, well almost empty.
Reluctantly I fished out a packet of strawberries washing them I push one into my mouth. Not that I didn't like the fruit, but rather I wanted to throw them to the face of the person they reminded me of.
Chewing it slowly wondering what the hell I have gotten myself into. Finally I decided to go to go to bed. A few hour's worth of sleep was just what I needed right now.
I really didn't want to be here right now.
" Come on Akemi-chan, don't be so gloomy" Orihime said as soon as she joined us. Seeing the scowl evident in my face since morning, she has been doing her best to cheer me up. It might have been the lack of sleep or the extra efford I put into avoiding Ichigo all day or maybe my mother's cheery attitude first thing in the morning like nothing had happened at all. All that built up creating a not very happy mood for me, hence the reason why Orihime dragged me all the way here and did her best to annoy... I mean cheer me up, the entire freaking day. I knew she had the best intentions in mind but I also knew a part of
I was currently in the middle of a very crowded settings for the famous TV show Spirit Hunter. They had somehow conviced me to come along. Tastuki and Chizuru were here as well. At some point Orihime left to see if Ichigo had come. Don't get me wrong I apreciated the way she was trying to make me fell better and I knew she had the best intentions in mind but I also knew a part of the reasom behind my frustration she would be very sad even if she would have desided not to show it.
"You know she is right." It was Tastuki that spoke now." You should have a little fun. You know, you seem like you need it."
"You are right I should relax a little things. Maybe I am making too much out of things that aren't there to begin with. In any case I need a distraction more than anything alse" Even though I was here against my will I would make the most of it. I made an efford to bring a smile to my face
"Akemi-chan is feeling much better now isn't that great Kurosaki-kun!" Wait, what? I slowly turn around to face Rukia and the ever frowning carrot haired idiot. I was so screwed.
" Have you been avoiding me ?" his tone was strangely accusing. Well I wasn't exactly discreet while doing so.
" What gave you that impression?" He raised an eyebrow and was adout to say something when he was interupted by another cheery voice.
"See Mizuiro, I told you Akemi would come" Keigo was about to drap his arm around my shoulder as he blabbered on endlessly. My eyebrow twiched and a tick mark appeared on my forhead anime-style.
" If you want to keep that arm I suggest keeping it to yourself" With a rather girly sriek caused by my death glare he pulled away with teary eyes. As if Chizuru wasn't enough.
"Mizuiro, Akemi-chan is so mean to me! " He turned to his raven haired friend only to be ignored.
"Shut up idiots it's about to begin." Tatsuki protested angrily.
Everyones attention was captured by the many lights that illuminated the abandoned hospital.
I was hearing Ichigo and Rukia wispering behind me but I made no efford to make out any words.
A scream ripped through the atmoshere and every hair on my body stood up. I knew that scream. I literary jumped when I heard Chad's voice.
"Can you hear something. It's like a strange voice" I could see Keigo pale sighnificaly to his remark and I chose to stay silent not knowing how to interprete the fact thet he could hear it too.
"...Eh Q...Quit it Chad, you are giving me the creeps..." The poor kid had sweat running down his face.
"It's just your imagination." Mizuiro add calmer.
"Yea right my imagination"
As I turned to the building my sight blured and my head begun to pound like someone was hitting it with a hammer. A figure was chained to the hospital. The chains were wraped around the hospital connected to his body. A semi hole was on his chest and h reminded me of those weird masked monsters
"Hey are you okay?" Mizuiro asked as I tried to fight of the fatique. Everything came in and out of focus as screams echoed again and again in my head.
" You seem pale do you want me to bring you some water?" Keigo asked.
"No I am okay really I will go get some myself." I went at the back away from the crowd stumbling slightly desperate to get some fresh air. I wasn't one for big crowds but it was never this bad. I took a couple of minutes to calm myself, when it became easier I made my way back to the front I didn't want to miss the show just because I was a little dizzy. Out of nowhere my sight became crimson and I took a few steps before a fash of orange passed in front of me. Ichigo was running towards the scene. What the hell was he doing ?
I had somewhat reconnected to my surroundings but the pain was showing sig ns of leaving me at peace. I run at the spot where he was standing before he jumped the ropes.
The host of the show had his cane in his hands and was trying to open the hole on the figures chest as the chained man was screaming in pain. It all clicked together, Ichigo wanted to stop him.
A bunch of very muscular guys jumped on him holding him down. The same with Rukia who was trying to reach him. He was screaming at her trying to break free from the men's hold when someone punched him. I felt my blood boil pushing the pain aside. No one touched my friends. I saw Chad had the same reaction because he was heading towards them as well. I clenched my fists ready to take them head on even though I had no chance whatsoever.
Another scream was howlered in the night from the man chained to his depest regret and his greatest desire as the hole was opened in his chest. Pain was ringing in my head as I was seeing crimson once again.
A cane came in contact with Ichigo's head as his body became limp and an exact copy of him flew across the room wearing that rediculous get-up. my eyes widened. I knew that man. Hat n clogs stood before Ichigo. The worst part was that they seemed to now each other somehow. That was it I couldn't take it anymore. I went closer.
" Why are you it this sort of place Urahara? Are you scheming something...?" Rukia asked him. Yea I wanted to know that too.
"No way I am not scheming anything at all !!" He flashed that annoying fan of his in front of his face."You see these kids love this show and they said they wanted to come here no matter what. So I came here without a choice... And then I heard Kuchiki-san's shrieks from far away."
"Fool. I don't shriek !" she said more aggressive than usual.
He totaly ignored her comment. " When I run over to see, it surprised..."
"Hey you" the body guard interupted him." Are you familiar with these two?"
"Am I right ? If that's so let's have a little talk over there" and when I thought the dude was done for
" Well.. you see" and he straight up pulled a gass weapon and shoot leaving everyone unconsious. Well almost everyone. Kushiki was fully awake and currently screaming at him. I struggled to stay consious as I could't make out she sounds around me. The shopkeeper and a muscular man carrying Ichigo's limp body tryed to make a run for it. As if I would let an opportunity like that slip through my fingers. I needed unswers.
I got up and walked to him caughting him by his cloth while breathing heavily. He turned to me surprised. Like he hadn't seen me the hole time. His eyes widened his mouth gabed open, like a family member he hadn't seen for years. Hilooks face was so familiar yet so foreighn.
"Akemi-san so nice to see you it has been quite some time since our last meeting." Furry boiled in me setting me off the edge. I grab his colar bringing him down to my level as we came face to face.
"I am done. I won't take any other words that make absolutely no sence. I want answers now. Who are you what do you want from my mother and I?"
"Wow that was quite the out burst. You seem to have a lot of thoughts bottled up in your head.That isn't good." that cheery voice made me want to punch him. I growled at him. His hand wrapped around mine the contact was oddly comforting like a natural instict telling me I was safe as long as he was around.
"You will get you answers. For now just look" he turned his attention to the main spctacle of the evening. I was so caught up in the moment that I had completely neglected my surroundings.I turned in timr to see Ichigo with that oversized sword of his fending off a hollow to protect the host of the show.
"Just as I thought... wonderfull and yet terrible. What should it be done, then?" I herd Kisuke wisper to himself.
"What is that thing" Finaly the question I've been dying to ask.
"Oh I guess you wouldn't remember now would you. It's called a hollow" he didn't answer my question but knowing the name was more than nothing.
"A hollow" the word was bittersweet in my mouth.
I stood quietly watching as he grabed Don Kanoji clothing from the back of his neck and gragged him to the side as the monster dove towards them. Then broke through the glass of the entrance and got inside the building.
"I see... Just as I thought, this is the kind of fighting ... you do" I was seriously starting to question the guy's sanity at this point.
We couldn't watch what was going on so I thought now was the tie to confront him.
"Now who are you and what do you want?"
"Ah I see demanding as ever... Even if in our current state you aren't really yourself you are throwing one question after the other."
"Answer me damn it and don't act like you know me"
" I am Kisuke Urahara. I am nothing but a candy shop owner. As for what I want... I think you know that better than anyone else."
"Stop messing with me and start making sence."
"Your friends must be very worried about you. I can see you have built quite the charming life for yourself. Even I am starting to think that Haruhi could be right. That's a shame if you think about it. I would naturally want to hear your thoughts about the whole situation. You always knew how to make the right decision whatever the cost."
"Here you go talking in riddles again. I want to find out what is going on what does my mother has to do with all this?"
"Are you sure about that?"
"What do you mean?"
"The barriers are taking their toll on your mind but so would having your memories back. So what is it going to be? I think I will leave it to you to decide."
"M...my memories ?" He turned his back to me. " Wait don't go!" hoards of people started cheering trying to get closer to the sight as Don Kanoji stepped to the edge of the roof posing victoriously. The crowd was blocking me from going after him.
"When you deside you will know where to find me. It was nice seeing my little sister again. I've missed you. Take care. " was all I heard before his figure merged with the hundreds of people celebrating and after numerous atempts to spot him I made my way to where my friends were.