Souls of the Lost
XXXXIt started when a boy, no older than about thirteen, was walking home from school. The day had been good: clear skies, sunny day, and so far nothing bad had happened to him. He had a light bruise on his cheek from the hit he received from a local gang; a small price to pay for taking them all out once and for all. Five on one and they only hit him once. However, the boy stopped, then sighed. They'd come back for more, this time with friends and this time targeting an elderly woman. It was the age of the samurai and the wandering wanderer, so how come it was always him that had to handle disputes that didn't concern him? He dropped his stuff, then got between the elderly woman and the gang, then roughed them up a bit, expecting them to leave as they always did. However, that was his mistake. One hid a knife until the boy got close to him, then stabbed the boy's chest. He blacked out almost immediately.
XXXXWhen he came to, it was night with a full moon out. He was laying on his back and couldn't feel a thing, until something like a stick nudged his left arm. "Oi, you awake? Another young one. This is getting sick." The boy was able to slowly regain himself, sit up, then turn to the woman that had poked him... with a sheath. "So you are. Great. Can you tell me your name? Remember that much at least?" The boy hesitated, then nodded slowly. "Narumi Kouzen." The woman's head tilted, but even with the quizzical look on her face, she was beautiful. Long blond hair that stretched down to her waist, piercing blue eyes, and a mature face that looked timeless. She stood about five foot four inches and wore black robes, which was odd, but also had a sheath strapped to her waist. "Narumi... isn't that a girl's name?" A man's voice rang out behind Kouzen. "Kouzen Narumi. It flips from Eastern to Western. So instead of Melissa Rose, it would be Rose Melissa. I thought we already went over this when you noted that the last one's name was weird." The man stood tall, about six foot three inches. His face was a little scarred, mainly a gash that cut vertically on his left cheek. He wore the same robes as this Melissa character did, but also wore a white coat over it which had a hood over his head. Melissa herself nodded. "Oh... right... Gotcha. Anywho, Jin, what are we going to do with this guy?" Kouzen had remained quiet the entire time. He was stunned and in awe at these two people.There was something powerful about these two. Jin studied Kouzen, then nodded. "He's already dead, so the only thing we can do is a soul burial." Kouzen just sat there as Jin pulled out his katana, then tapped the butt of the hilt on his forehead. A bright light began to carry Kouzen, and once again, he blacked out.
XXXX Three years ago, Kouzen was killed by a mugging gone wrong. Two days later, he was sent to Soul Society, where he was recruited into a gang of children that were his own age. "Ok, crash course for the newbie. My name's Fuyuki, she's Hinahime, and you're currently in Rukongai District 82, one out of 320. Here, there's no law, so usually you either band together or die. I donno about you, but I rather like living, so--" "I thought we were already dead..." "Figure of speech. Anyway, the district's run by three major gangs, us, Furisaido, being one of them. So far, we have a good holding, but we need manpower. That's where you come in. I know a fighter when I see one, so what do ya say? Help us keep what we got and we got your back."
XXXX He met Fuyuki and Hime in a back ally raid. Kouzen wanted nothing to do with the event, but he soon found himself being dragged by Fuyuki during the escape. Soon after, he joined Furisaido; Freeside. He soon gathered everyone's positions within the gang: Fuyuki was the muscle, Hinahime was the brains, and everyone did as they were told when they were told to. They stole and fought only when they had to, and for the most part played Peacekeeper for the district. Most of the district's residences approved of them, some didn't. The latter comprised of the other two gangs ad the freelancers looking for easy prey. Every day was a fight for survival, but was nothing compared to the last day Kouzen spent in Rukongai.
XXXX The barrier surrounding Soul Society from hollows would occasionally form holes. After all, the barrier stretched quite a distance. One such instance was during a Snatch And Run the three were apart of for the night's meal. As they were being chased, screams rang out. People began to flee in the opposite direction. The source. A black creature whom no one had ever seen before. It bore a white demonic mask, and had a hole in its chest. It stood about ten feet tall, giant claws, hooves for feet, and a spiked tail. "What... what the hell is that!?" "Who cares? Run for it!" As Fuyuki and Hime followed those around him, something inside Kouzen told him to stay. The creature turned its gaze on his friends, then gave off a wicked laugh. That's when he heard a voice to his left. "Oi! Catch!" His hand shot out as he caught the sheath of a sheathed katana. No, it was a little short for that. A kodachi, maybe? He looked to see the source of the voice, but whoever shouted at him was gone. He returned his eyes back to the Hollow, who's head tilted, as if to ask: 'Why no run?' Kouzen grabbed the hilt, then flung the sheath off. Soul Cutter. A voice echoed in his head. He nodded. If this thing could help make sure his friends were safe, he'd use whatever he was given. Hime and Fuyuki looked back to see Kouzen standing firm before the creature. "Kouzen! Come on--" Hime gripped Fuyuki's arm, tightly at that. She had a terrified look on her face, the same expression fueling Kouzen's want to protect. He flipped the blade to hold it reverse-hand, then sprinted forward that the beast. It swung its right claw at him. An unknown instinct took over as he sailed over the claw and the beast in a barrel roll, then flipped when he was directly above the beast. When it looked up, he drove the blade down through the forehead of the creature, shattering the mask and dissolving the creature. When Kouzen landed, he gazed at the blade in his hand. The sheath was somehow secure on his waist. He looked back to not only see Hime's still terrified face, but most of the locals with the same expression. The only one without it was Fuyuki, who tried to speak but nothing came out.
XXXX After a moment of silence, something flew at Kouzen. A rotten apple, thrown from someone in the crowd. "D-Demon! Stay the hell away from us!" Soon, other voices chimed in, spouting the same thing. Fuyuki tried to say something once more, but Kouzen hushed her with a grin, then a nod, but his eyes seemed to dim as if they were becoming void of emotion. That was the last time he was seen in Soul Society until he showed up at the Shinigami Academy a year later. Yuuki Satori also made an appearance, someone who was widely renown as one of the greatest Shinigami swordsman the Gotei had ever known. She retired some twenty years before Kouzen had met the two girls. For the entire year following the Hollow attack, Yuuki trained Kouzen in swordsmanship and being a soldier overall. Upon his acceptance, everyone had known about his defeating the Hollow, but shunned him as well. They didn't simply understand him, and therefor was scared of him. The only two he had occasional contact with were the two girls he'd met in Rukongai, who also apparently had what it took to become Shinigami. Something seemed to have broken in Kouzen, though. He rarely spoke, and if anything, it was usually either one or two words. When he rarely attended classes outside of what was absolutely necessary, and when he wasn't at the Academy, he was off training somewhere with Yuuki. Society had made it clear he wasn't welcomed, but he was fine with that.
XXXX During one evening, he overheard that Fuyuki was being hardheaded. This wasn't unusual, but the details were definitely not Fuyuki-like. As he neared her new place of residence, one of the upper window blinds shook. Moments later, an older boy opened the door, though didn't exit the shack. "Go away! We don't want you here, demon!" The boy got yanked back into the shack, and Hime appeared, sighing. "Sorry Kouzen, Gai'll never grow up." "Is Fu alright?" Hime shook her head. "Fu locked herself in her room with Gai, Fontine, and myself. She won't do anything. It's pretty sad to see, really."Kouzen simply nodded and began to walk off, just like that. Out of no where, Fuyuki busted through the shack door, ran past both Hime and Kouzen, and headed to the outskirts. She was tailed by two boys: Gai and another, presumably Fontine. Hime shook her head and went back into the shack, while Kouzen just stood there, weighing his options. He then nodded and began to sprint after Fuyuki.
XXXX In the barren wasteland, with Rukongai walls behind her, Fuyuki was ran off towards a spire that was off in the distance. Fontine and Gai were just standing next to an opening in the wall, panicking. The Kouzen appeared and ran after Fuyuki. The other two boys ran back through the opening. After finally managing to catch up with her, Kouzen and Fuyuki were panting. Fuyuki was hunched over, tears streamed down her face as she stopped to catch her breath. No exchange was made, but Fuyuki was shocked, then grinned, wiping her cheeks. Both nodded and began to walk along the path, the only path, which twirled around the spire itself.
XXXX About ten minutes after the trek started, a large, spider-like Hollow, much like the creature that attacked them years prior, appeared. Fuyuki grabbed a stick off the ground to fight it, but as she did so, the Hollow charged her. Kouzen dove and pushed her out of the way. He got nailed by the Hollow's claw and nearly went off the side. Fuyuki grabbed his hand and tried to pull him up. He shook his head. "Do you trust me?" He knew they didn't stand a chance, and had only not attempted to talk her out of this because he knew she wouldn't have listened to him. This was the only way she'd understand. Fuyuki hesitated, but nodded. Suddenly, as the Hollow charged again, he grabbed her arm with his other hand, then used his feet to kick off the side of the cliff. Both were now free falling. Kouzen rapped his arms around the girl and held her. Fuyuki was yelling something, then they hit the ground on Kouzen's back. They bounced up, then Kouzen landed on his stomach, Fuyuki on her back.
XXXX By nightfall, both still laying there. Fuyuki was breathing somewhat heavily, out of shock most likely, and Kouzen's body didn't move at all. Two adults appeared, as did Fontine and Gai. Oh my god, Fuyuki!" One of the adults ran to Fuyuki, and checked her pulse. She had one of course, but couldn't get up. Her leg was broken. While the first adult lifted Fuyuki in her arms, the second walked over to Kouzen. "What the hell were you thinking, you stupid brat!? She could have died because of you! The adult was about to kick the boy's side, but stopped, instead just giving an evil stare. The two other boys just watched as the adults carried Fuyuki off, who was still in shock.
XXXX Thirty minutes later, Kouzen's chest began to grow and shrink again; he was finally breathing. He just laid there for a moment, then slowly got up. He looked around, but he couldn't see anyone. He then looked up, from where they fell. It was fall almost equal to a fifteen story drop. He shouldn't have survived that, but there was no expression showed on what could be seen of his face. He simply began to limp back to Rukongai.
XXXX In front of Fuyuki's home. a crowd of people were piled in front of the door of all ages. Kouzen walked up somewhat, clenching his right arm. He hesitated to continue after seeing the wave of people, but then built up enough courage to press on. As he neared, people began to turn and glare at him. Slowly more and more caught on. Some of the older people began to yell out insults and threats, but he didn't stop. Suddenly, people began to go wide eyed in front of him and, like a sea, began to part as he stepped.
XXXX He neared the door, and it opened. Gai and Fontine. They were trying to act like big, tough men guarding the abused girl, but their knees were shaking. The boy simply shook his head. "Is she ok..?" Fontaine nodded. The boy looked down, then looked up, nodding. Then, without saying anything, limped back the way he came in. As he took roughly eleven steps from the crowd, a man yelled out "We don't need you here, Demon! You're not wanted here!" 'Yea's followed. Hime shook her head. 'Demon'... that again... Kouzen stopped, and thought about what was just said. He wasn't welcomed, wanted, or needed. He then looked up, grinning. "No... you have it all wrong: it's I that doesn't need you." That was the last time he spoke. That was the last time he ever gave a damn about anyone. He became totally isolated in everything he did. From then on, an aura of dread surrounded him no matter where he went.
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She's baaaaaaack~