Wind's Calling

The Other Half

It was strange being back in high school. It was worse when she ran into the others, fingers being pointed at her as she stood in her friend group and the surprise on everyone's faces making her uncomfortable. "(Y/n), you know those guys," Mita whispered hoarsely.
"Regrettably," (Y/n) turned away from them, smiling at the other girls as their conversation picked up. The day went by as normal, the ordinary feel of it bringing some sort of peace.
"(Y/n)," she turned to see Tatsuki. She was a younger student (Y/n) found herself getting along with easily because of their ideals. (Y/n) found that Tatsuki cared deeply for those close to her, even if she didn't know what went on in their everyday lives. It still made her smile as Tatsuki hugged her tightly. "You disappeared on me, where did you go?"
"Well, something came up," (Y/n) nodded. "How is the dojo and all that? I heard from the upperclassmen that you got hurt during a tournament? Did you at least kick someone's ass?"
"Of course I did! You're the one that taught me how to take a hit you know," Tatsuki laughed. "What came up that pulled you out of school for so long? The dojo wasn't the same."
"My grandfather," (Y/n) nodded. "We finally made up in a way. I paid him a visit."
"Oh wow," Tatsuki nodded and started waking for the school's dojo. (Y/n) followed her out of habit, not paying attention. "Where'd your choker go? Isn't that like, part of your get up or something?"
(Y/n) blinked and felt at her neck, not feeling the scars left by the panther hallow, "Oh, I guess I just forgot it this morning." She wore it to cover the scars on her original gigai but it seemed the new one that Urahara made didn't have any of them. Why would it though? No one had seen the scars she covered up so well.
"I mean, I'm glad you showed up but you seem out of it," Tatsuki laughed softly. "Oh, are you going to watch today's training?"
"I might. I've been really busy these days. My parent's inheritance is dwindling and I might have to get a job," (Y/n) felt bad lying to Tatsuki. It always did because of how pure the human was.
"Why don't you move in with my family? You've been over often enough," Tatsuki suggested. (Y/n)'s heart squeezed and she chuckled lightly.
"I might just have to move back in with my grandpa," (Y/n) sighed.
"Didn't he drive you away though? Why would you go back," Tatsuki gasped loudly. "(Y/n), I don't think that's good for either of you."
"Look who's acting all grown up," (Y/n) teased. She pinched the younger girl's cheek and hummed, ignoring the complaining. She sat in the dojo, waiting patiently for the practice to start. She didn't feel her eyes close and she didn't realize she was falling asleep.

The pain felt different this time. The roaring in her ears and the heat in her face had been gone. It sounded as though she was talking though, something too low for her to make out clearly. Then the reverberating voice became louder, her own dominating the sound, "We aren't so different after all I guess. Damn it, what's the point in this if she's going to be in there chatting it up with those weasels the whole damn time? This ain't fun."
Who was it that made her lips move and have this sort of dialogue? Why did they think it was okay now as it tore into a hallow? "We're the same person you know? I know you're not weak so why don't you do something about it? You hate violence like this don't you?"
What could she say, trapped here in a dream?
"We're strong apart but stronger together, aren't we," the voice mumbled. It stopped moving her hands and the world turned black for a moment, "Stronger together, huh? A single person?"
What did it mean by a single person and what did it want? Why couldn't she move her own body?
"Hey, tiny one," a voice shouted. The impact tore through her left side, wrenching a scream from her throat.

(Y/n) panted as she clenched Renji's shihakusho, her body pinning him to the floor. He looked angry but there were new bruises forming on his jaw. "(Y/n), get off of me," he grunted. She let go and scrambled back quickly, looking around and feeling at her face. Her apartment greeted her, a worry settling in.
"How did I get- I'm sorry I didn't mean to," she muttered.
"Go back to the Soul Society," he sighed. "I don't know what happened but it's obvious you're not okay. Why did they send you?"
"I can't. I need to get over this," she rubbed her head and felt at her face carefully. The mask wasn't present and it was a relief but what she heard left her uncomfortable. What part of her was so violent? "That's why I'm here, to get rid of the bounts with you and get over my fear."
"On who's orders," Renji asked. "You're a liability, not a help."
"Thanks, I'll tell my captain that," she glared at him and rubbed her head, her shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry I hit you."
"I want to see how strong you are," he huffed after a while.
"That's dangerous," she snorted. "If I fight I start to lose control."
"Too bad. We're going to Urahara's. Get dressed," Renji stood straight and fixed his top. She stared at him wide eyed for a moment before groaning and complying. It was a few moments later they found themselves walking up to Urahara's door. It was like the man was expecting them, waiting patiently at the door with a broad smile.
"Hello," he called. "What can I do for you?"
"Renji wants to train again," (Y/n) replied.
"That's doable, how's the other situation," he grinned.
"Bad," (Y/n) ignored the peeved glance of Renji, "Where is it?"
"Sealed away for now," Urahara chuckled and turned inside, the two following.
"What's he talking about," Renji asked quietly.
"Doesn't matter, we aren't here for it," (Y/n) dropped into the training room as soon as Urahara opened the door, her feet barely touching the floor before she flashed a few feet away. Renji was down soon after not wasting time in drawing his zanpakuto.
"Don't hold back," he nodded. (Y/n) stared at him for a moment before drawing her own, releasing the blades from one another.
"Trip them, cut them, and heal them," (Y/n) lightly tapped the butts of the blades together, "Bankai." Renji's mouth was gaping as the blades connected, the one buried in the ground forming into a whip why the other two turned to sickles. The end of it wasn't thinned but rounded in a wooden plate, the center glowing. She picked it up, Renji creating his own bankai quickly. The giant snake hissed down at her and she grinned a bit as her adrenaline kicked in.
"When did you master that," he yelled at her, a large smile on his face.
"I spent decades talking to these three, you know. How can I not have bankai," she launched forward, planting her feet on his chest before kicking off. He grunted, swinging his arm and Zabimaru racing at her. She spun her bankai, the sickles blurring into a whirlwind and beginning to create one only visible because of the dust it kicked up. The laughing started in her head, her vision blurring as she swung it out, throwing the head of Zabimaru off.
She spun with the throw, activating shunko as she grimaced. The heat on her skin felt scorching, the relief coming from the wind she passed through. "Stop it," she growled at the voice. She was in front of Renji, the end of the whip smacking into his face before her feet spun him and sent him flying.
"We're stronger together. You know that."
"You're not me," she muttered. She stood still, watching Renji get up before flashing behind him. He blocked the sickle that came down but missed her feet coming up and hitting his chin. He practically soared up and (Y/n) flashed above him, flipping and smacking the plate into his head to send him downwards.
"I am though! Don't you feel it? The joy of attacking? That's me and I'm you!"
"Enough," (Y/n) dove after Renji, his hands shaking as he rose them to block her. A purple haired woman raced in front of him, Urahara with her as (Y/n) struck down. She could see them but she acted like she hadn't, letting her wrist be grabbed and stopping short of Urahara's blade at her throat. There was a spinning force against her shunko, the woman's back and shoulders exposed.
(Y/n) denied the cancelation for a brief moment, the woman's eyes widening before (Y/n) let it cancel out. Urahara stared with knowing eyes, even as he smiled.
"This isn't the time to duke it out you two," he chuckled. "We have a bigger problem in front of us." (Y/n) pulled back and let out a breath, her head beginning to throb as she drew the plate up. She pushed past the two, settling down next to Renji and smiling a bit.
"Thanks," she muttered and held the plate out, a green mush of herbs in the center of it after she waved it up and down. "Here."
"When did you learn that? Man, I thought Ichigo was intense," Renji cried and sat up completely, poking at the mush.