What Time Leaves Behind

Ch.9 You Again!

~~~~Time Skip~~~~

"..."

The moon hung in the sky with the shinning stars surrounding it. I was currently sitting at my desk, going over the notes Kisuke gave me.

If I'm going to be this all-powerful soul reaper, I need to learn more about them. So, I'm basically just studying right now.

"..."

Or...at least I'm trying to.

"...Kaori..."

...I... I don't know what to think anymore.

~~~~Meanwhile/Ririn's P.O.V.~~~~

...

...

"...!" Waking up with a start, I quickly sit up from Ichigo's bed. "They've come!"

Ichigo, who currently studying at his desk, turns his attention towards me. "A Bount?"

I nod. "It's all right, though. They're far from here."

"..." Closing his book, Ichigo stands. I watch him head for his door. However, he stops short.

"...What's wrong? Aren't you going to tell Emiko?"

"...No. We'll deal with this ourselves."

Turning around, he goes to Kon and wakes him up. I simply watch as Kon complains about being woken up.

...I wonder why he won't tell her.

~~~~Time Skip~~~~

"Which way, Ririn?"

"...That way."

Now in his soul reaper form, Ichigo continued to run through the night with me on his shoulder. As we travel by rooftops, I keep my eyes glued towards the ground in search of our target.

"Mmm...! There, Ichigo!" I point down at the sidewalk. We watch a woman take one slow step at a time and into an alleyway.

Ichigo jumps to the ground, just at the entrance as the woman is embraced by another. She leans in close to her neck and opens her mouth. Just as she begins sucking out her soul-

"What are you doing?"

She quickly looks up in our direction, looking very unpleased. "A soul reaper?"

"I'm just a substitute..."

"What business does a substitute soul reaper have with me?"

"That woman there... I'm afraid I can't let you eat the souls of living people."

"Oh please...don't interfere!"

"I can't do that!" Ichigo sprints forward to only have the Bount toss the woman she was holding towards him. He catches her, while the woman escapes. "Where did she..."

"Over there, you slow poke!" I shout in annoyance.

Ichigo looks at the woman in his arms. "B-But what about-"

"It's all right. She's just unconscious."

"...Okay." Ichigo gently lays her upright against the wall before taking off. We follow the Bount down a bunch of different streets and alleyways, trying to just keep up with the mysterious woman. "Dammit! Wait!"

I hang onto Ichigo's shoulders for dear life. "She's not as vicious as we expected. But you shouldn't let your guard down because of this."

"I know." The woman hops a fence and runs onto some construction site. We quickly do the same, cornering her within minutes. Her back was against a brick wall, too tall for her to jump it and escape. Ichigo pulls out his zanpakuto and points the blade in her direction.