From souls to heroes

Shiro-chan

It was in middle school that Ochaco noticed the unusual voice in her head.

It had only been incoherent mumbling up until that point in her life, but, now that she could focus in on it, it became crystal clear.

It sounded just like her but with an echo. It was familiar in some ways but she just couldn't put her finger on it.

What was going on? Was she going crazy?

She knew it wasn't her own thoughts.

Ochaco was sitting in her room, studying for the UA entrance exams, when the voice hit her again.

"This all seems so boring. What do you need this information for anyways? You have a lifetime of knowledge about being a hero in your head. Aren't ya just tired of it?"

It spooked her. She looked around her room to see if anyone was there. It felt like someone was talking right in her ear.

There was no one there.

"Of course not, I'm in your head" the voice laughed.

"So you are, but what exactly are you?" Ochaco asked out loud, earning another laugh.

"Oh, so ya can finally understand me, hah?"

"Yes, I've always been able to hear you, but..."

"Ya could never understand what I was saying or ya just didn't care to listen, which one is it, Queen?"

Ochaco stopped.

Queen?! There was only one person who she could think of that addressed her like that. Images of bone masks and gold, predatory eyes filled her mind.

"Zangetsu?"

The laugh that came was not in her head that time.  She immediately spun around again. This time, there was someone there.

Sitting on her bed was a pure white doppelgänger of herself. The only things that weren't white were black sclera and those familiar gold pupils.

"Now don't get me confused with that old man" the form smirked wickedly.

"Why are you here and why do you look like me now? You're supposed to be with Ichigo. How did you..." the figure raised both of their hands.

"One question at a time, would ya? Just because I'm feeling generous enough to answer doesn't mean ya should bombard me"

"Right...sorry." Ochaco couldn't believe she was apologizing to her former husband's inner hollow, but here they were.

"First off, I'm not Zangetsu. I'm my own independent being separate from him. Wasn't always like that, though."

Ochaco nodded to get the hollow to continue.

"A chunk of Ichigo's hollow powers broke off and connected to you when you died. When you reincarnated, it did too. Slowly but surely, as you grew up, it gained power and grew in size too"

"And that piece is...you?" The hollow smiled again.

"Correct, you're getting a lot better at this, Queen"

"So, you have no connection to Ichigo at all?" Ochaco asked hopeful for different answer.

Her hopes were shot down the minute the hollow shook their head.

"I'm afraid not. No connection spiritually or mentally. Sorry to get your hopes up"

Ochaco sighed. She was really hoping that this hollow had some mental connection to Ichigo so he would know she's ok.

"Ya know, it still kills me when ya look upset"

"What?" The hollow looks away from her.

"Not sure why though. There's no connection emotionally either. Maybe, I'm just soft"

"You are pretty nice for a hollow, I'll give you that" the hollow pouted at being called that.

"Although, I guess I can't really call you hollow and I can't call you Zangetsu. I'll have to come up with a new name for you"

"Ya know, ya don't have to. I don't really care what ya call me. We're not exactly supposed to be friends" the comment fell on deaf ears as Ochaco was too busy thinking of names.

"Oh, I know! How about Shiro"

"Shiro, as in white?"

Ochaco nods with a smile.

"Sure, after all, you were the opposite of Kurosaki"

"Hm, I guess it works for now. I'll be Shiro"

Great, it's nice to actually meet you then, Shiro-Chan!" Her hollow doppelgänger blushed a dark blue color.

A knock on the door suddenly sends both of them into a panic.

"See you later" Shiro whispers before disappearing with dark black energy.

"Who are you talking to in here, Ochaco?" Her father opened the door to his daughter standing in the middle of the room, staring at him wide eyed.

"Oh, I was reenacting a scene I saw from a show I was watching"

"O...okay, well dinner is ready when you're done" he closed the door quietly.

"That was close" Ochaco whispered to herself.

"No kidding" Shiro replied back.