The Awakening [Book 2] (Bleach: Ichiruki)

XIV

Rukia Kuchiki

I didn't know the man who had visited me.

But something tells me that I knew him, and that our last encounter was unpleasant. He let off the vibe that he once was an evil man once, then turned to the light.

And I trusted every single one of his words.

Still; who the hell was he? One visit, one word from him, and suddenly I had an urge to retaliate against Arachne and Tatsuo.

Was he a spirit sent to warn me? I knew he was someone important from the terrifying power he had over me. And his eyes.. it was like they could read my mind, my soul. It reminded me of Arachne's eyes; it was like they both could see the future.

Maybe he could defeat Arachne.

Whatever the point, I now realized that Arachne was using me for her own personal gain.

I was so dumb; so weak. I allowed her and Tatsuo to manipulate me, to remove my memories of the past one by one.

And now, thanks to the mysterious spirit who had visited me, my eyes were opened to the fact that she had been sucking the life out of me these past months I had been here.

She was too nice to be true.

And Tatsuo was too good to be true.

But there was one thing I knew for sure; I needed to find Kotaku.

I now realized why he had been trying to get me out of this place.

And I now decided, after sitting here for five straight minutes doubling over in my thoughts, that it was time for me to go.

I rushed from the garden, speeding through the endless halls of Arachne's palace.

I gasped when I nearly ran into one of Arachne's servants.

"My lady, are you okay?"

"Actually, I'm not. I was just out in the garden and I saw someone-- I think he's following me. Could you perhaps check to make sure he isn't?" I said, making up some lame excuse and basing the guy off of the man that spoken with me.

"Of course!" And with that she scurried off, a determined look on her face.

I continued my endless running, turning corner after corner until Kotaku's door came into view.

I barged in with knocking, meeting his surprised expression as he stood there in nothing but shorts.

I ignored the fact that he was half naked before me as I rushed to him, gripping on his arms.

"I understand it all now."

"What are you doing here? I mean, not that I'm complaining.. But isn't it to early for you to be up?"

"I understand why you sent me to the human world. It all makes sense!" I said, breathless.

"You're not making sense.."