Do I Belong? (Bleach)

The Explanation I've Been Waiting For

I stared at Kisuke, lips parted slightly, eyes wide. There's that word again.

Changeling.

Yoruichi startled us both by punching Kisuke, making him go flying to the wall. "You idiot! You shouldn't put it so bluntly! Especially since it's so important!"

Kisuke stood up and let out a small laugh. "Too late now."

"What's a changeling?" I asked, interrupting the two.

Yoruichi gave me a weird look. "Shouldn't you know?"

I shook my head. "I really have no idea."

"I'm going to assume your not playing dumb," Kisuke said. "How do you have no idea what a changeling is?"

"Well... Um..." I rubbed my arm nervously. "About 20 years ago, I fought a hollow named Nusumimasu."

Realization dawned on their faces. "That actually explains a lot," Kisuke mumbled. "Why didn't Isshin mention it earlier?"

I shrugged, never really being able to explain the actions of Captain Shiba. "What is a changeling?" I asked again, now that they both don't think I'm lying.

"A changeling is a kind of... creature," Kisuke started to explain. "They have the ability to change the form that they take. I've never seen the true form of a changeling. That's all I really know about them. You're the first changeling I met."

"How did you know I was a changeling?"

"There's a symbol on your stomach, the character for change, followed by two wings."

I clutched my stomach, remembering that mark, ignoring the fact that Kisuke's a big pervert to know where it was.

"What am I going to do?" I whispered, barely loud enough to be heard.

Kisuke started walking out the room, calling to Yoruichi, "You explain. I have to get something."

"For the time being, you're going to stay in the World of the Living," Yoruichi answered. "The Soul Society doesn't know about you being a changeling, but they still suspect you made the sixth seat officers vanish. Me and Kisuke are going to try to learn more about the changelings. Do you remember anything about them?"

I thought about the visions I've been having, and the lady-Joo I think-but I couldn't bring myself to talk about them. I shook my head. "Sorry."

Yoruichi nodded. "It's alright. Don't tell anybody that you're a changeling, alright? Just in case."

I nodded. "Don't worry. I didn't plan on telling anyone."

Kisuke walked back in, holding my gigai. I looked at myself. I was still in a gigai. What was that one for?

"What's that?" I asked.

"A gigai," he answered plainly.

I gave him a no duh look. "I meant, what's it for?"

"It will hide your spiritual pressure better than the one your wearing. It will also help you feed better."

"Feed?" I asked as my voice dropped, my face losing colour.

Kisuke nodded. "I guess I forgot to mention. Changelings feed off of spiritual pressure. This will give you what you need. You wont need to worry about passing out anymore!"

Yoruichi pulled out a glove and slapped me on the forehead, making me leave the old gigai. Kisuke handed me the new one, and I climbed inside.

"How does is feel?" Kisuke asked.

"Just like it should. except warmer." I gave him a small smile. It was pleasantly warm in this gigai, making it more comfortable.

"That's the spiritual pressure its giving you. Also, this new gigai is better for physical activity. When making it, I had realized that when the Soul Reapers came, they could catch you in a heartbeat. This one will allow you to move freely, run faster, and jump higher in an emergency."

I smirked. "Sweet."

"But it'll only work if Soul Reapers come to Karakura Town. For now, you're an ordinary human."

My smirk disappeared as fast as it appeared. "Awww..."

Kisuke laughed. "You should get ready for school now. Ichigo's waiting outside for you, and he's not happy. There's a spare uniform in your room you can change into."

I flinched, remembering that I had snuck out. I glumly walked back into my room, changing as slowly as possible to wait out Ichigo's wrath.

My backpack was next to the bed, so I swiftly grabbed it and walked out the room.

When I entered the lobby of the Urahara Shop, Kisuke was hiding behind his fan while Ichigo was glaring daggers into my skull.

"Hi," I stated nervously, giving him a small wave.

He just crossed his arms. "Let's go," he said as he turned and walked out the door.

As I walked past Kisuke, he whispered, "Remember. Don't tell them."

I gave him a curt nod, walking out of the shop.

I walked next to Ichigo on the way to school, my guilt eating me alive. Maybe if he talked, I wouldn't feel so bad, but Ichigo stayed quiet.

"Are you mad?" I asked, as we neared the school.

Ichigo sighed, closing his eyes and looking down, his arms still crossed. "Not really. I was just worried that the Soul Reapers got you while I was asleep."

"I'm sorry," I said, my guilt only getting worse. Maybe I would've felt better if we had stayed quiet...

"It's fine," he spoke again. I looked at Ichigo through the corner of my eye. He was looking towards the school, refusing to look at me. "Promise you won't run off like that again."

I nodded. "Yeah, don't worry." I thought back to Joo. I do not want to deal with her again.

When we stepped onto the school grounds, I suddenly froze.

"What is it?" Ichigo looked back at me.

I looked up, into the sky, a puzzled expression on my face. "I don't know. I just... I thought I felt a new spiritual pressure enter the World of the Living."

A guarded look took over Ichigo's face. "We won't let them get you," he reassured me.

I let out a small laugh. "I know. Besides, it could've just been my imagination."

We continues to walk towards the school, but my mind wasn't into it. I know for a fact I felt someone's spirit energy enter the World of the Living. Who it is? They're too far away for me to tell.

Is it a changeling, or a Soul Reaper?

Either way, it's a lose-lose situation.