Chapter One: Do I Have Any Regrets?
110 years ago
April 3rd
School in Karakura, Japan
Bong! Bong! Bong! Sighing, I pack up my math notebook and textbook after the town bell chimes. My first day of high school was such a pain. I have tons of math, English, and science homework. Man, I hate science. Who cares about the planets and what they’re made of or who Isaac is? I don’t really listen to last names, oh well.
“Hello Ru-Ru! Want to hang out at my place?” asked my best friend Tarento Yoru. Her curly blonde hair bobs up and down as her small form makes its way towards me. Her emerald green eyes stare at me while her thin lips curve in a smile.
“Um…… I’m sorry, but I have to help my mother with her illness. I have to fill out some medical forms for her,” I reply with a sigh.
My family hasn’t been real….... great. My father died ten years ago when I was five. He was working in the mines when it collapsed on him. My brother, Gin, died three years ago in a train accident. He was traveling to Tokyo to buy food when his train collided into another train. That leaves my mother, my sister Kitsune and me, Enzeru Ichimaru. My mother fell ill a year ago and Kitsune had just finished collage. She’s a major lawyer and keeps our family organized. She also helps take care of mother.
“Aw…… Okay. Well, can I come over to your house and help you?” Tarento pushes.
She fully knows that my grandmother hates everyone not in my family. Even though she doesn’t live with us, she forbids any other human in the house, unless they’re a doctor. Even so, I still have my friends come over even if I get punished and that’s all the time. All my friends are real poor and I have the biggest house of them all, well actually in the whole Karakura, Japan, so where else is there to hang out. Let’s just say my family has some royal blood.
“Of course, your always welcomed,” I chuckle and we both walk out of the school doors giggling to each other.
“Hey Ru-Ru, can I ask you something?” Tarento asks with a serious face.
“Um….. Shoot for it?” I ask while I fidget with my pure, white blouse and waits for her question. What could she want? Does she want to know if the rumor about me is true? It totally isn’t.
“I need to know, what’s your secret for large breasts? I mean come on. Yours is as big as a grown woman’s and you’re only fifteen! That’s amazing! What do you do? Drink a lot of milk? What?” Tarento questions me.
I start cracking up and she follows quickly. I calm down and reply, “I don’t know. Genetics? My mom kind of has big breasts, but not really my sister. Maybe it’s cheese? My sister hates cheese, but I love it,”
We both burst out laughing at the suggestion and finally make it to my estate. The flowers of my family’s garden are in full bloom and scent the house in a perfect tone. My eyes dart around when no noise breaks the silence. Not even a chirp of a bird is heard. Glancing over at Tarento, I notice that she hasn’t realized the silence. Taking off our shoes, we make our way up the wooden stairs, towards my mother’s room. The bed was neatly made with my mother out of sight. Where could she be?
Hearing a squeak, I tackle Tarento to the side and back to the hallway. I stare memorized as a rapid fire was shot. The wall behind where we once were had about a dozen holes in it. Shaking, Tarento took a breath to scream, but stops as I put a hand over her mouth. I grip her arm as I pull her to her feet. I push her in front of me as we dash down the hall and towards the stairs. Crumpling to the floor, pain shoots through my whole back. I punch my best friend’s legs and she falls backwards, missing the bullet by inches.
I stand up, tugging her with me as we make our way down the stairs. We rush outside and make it into my family’s shrine for protection. I quickly lock the huge doors and take Tarento to the back on the shrine. I carefully take my family’s ancient katana and place it on my lap as we sit down on the smooth surface of the wooden floor. Shaking, Tarento grips onto my shirt as she stuffs her face into my shoulder. I hear whimpers as my sleeve becomes wet. I move my hand to comfort her, but flinch when the motion causes my back to swell up in pain. I bite my lip in effort to stop my own whimpers. I really want to scream, but it would only panic Tarento even more.
I freeze when someone tries opening the shrine doors. Placing Tarento down, I unsheathe the glistening sword. I took cautious steps towards the rattling door, my breath coming short. My eyes stare wide open as the world starts to shake and I had to struggle so not to break down there and start panicking. I let the hot tears pour out my ocean blue eyes as the pain swallows me whole.
“Enzeru Ichimaru, I know you’re in there. Come out or I’ll kill your mother and sister. Keep your friend in there,” a man threatens from outside.
I hear a slight whimper and I realize it wasn’t an empty threat. He was really going to kill them if I didn’t go outside. I force my shaking hands to the door handle and step slowly down the stone steps. I raise my sword in front of me as I face my threat.
“Well look at this. I was debating on who the kill, since I only have one bullet left, but it’s real obvious now. It would be wise to kill the one with the weapon or they would just come over here and kill me,” the man snickers.
I freeze for a second, until I realize that’s what he wanted; fear. I growl and lift my sword into an attacking position. I dash towards the threatening man and spot the panic in his widening eyes. Everything falls apart as the shine of the gun appears and then the booming sound of the fire.
Tears pour out my lazy eyes as I crumple to the spring grass. My mother lets out a whimper as she scrambles to my side with my sister following. The shrine door burst open as Tarento dashes out and falls to my side. The man retreats with a look of sorrow in his eyes, like he didn’t mean to shoot me. My eyes grow heavy as my mother begs me to stay with her. I clench her warm hands as I smile up at her and all sound disappears. My body is unable to move as I look from one to another. I’m just glad I could see them all at my death, but most of all, I’m glad it was me and not them. I hope I see Gin and Dad soon.
April 5th
Graveyard
My mother sobs and coughs as she kneels next to my grave, while Kitsune and grandmother stands behind her. The three of them stood out with their black kimonos as the cherry blossom trees let their petals glide in the wind. Behind them were other family members that I knew and others I would not have the pleasure to meet. Then, there was my friends including Tarento who sits sobbing in her hands. My friends try to comfort her, but it was a waste of time.
I stare down at them in a spirit form from up in a cherry blossom tree. I wish I could be there and comfort all of them, but no. I’m the one that’s causing them to cry. I shed one tear and then walk away from them forever. Is this what happens when people die? They just keep walking around? People say if you have regrets, then you stay on earth until you get over them. Do I have any regrets? I don’t think so, oh well. I might as well walk around.
I spend hours walking around town and looking at all the cloths that I would never wear. There are tons of cute dresses that I would never wear, oh well. After awhile, I realize that one, I don’t get tired and two, that it is dark outside. Walking down a dimly lit street, I hear a shivering growl. I know I shouldn’t be scared since I’m dead, but it fells directed to me.
I scan the street and jump when I face a big mask in front of my face. Freezing at seeing this monster, I start to tremble. Screaming, I rush away from the cackling monster. It starts to say something, but my panic doesn’t let me process the words. I start to scream, full knowing that no one would hear my yelps of help. Tripping to the rocky street, I look up at the masked monster hovering over me. I shiver as I hold my arms in front of me.
”Ha, I’m going to get a great treat out of you. You have so much reiyoku for suck a puny spirit,” laughs the drooling monster.
I have no idea what he was talking about, but I figure it made me tastier or something. Tears start to pour down my cheeks as I close my eyes, awaiting the attack. I hear a screech of pain and I slowly open my eyes to find the monster perishing and a man appear behind it with a weird sword.
“You okay, kiddo?” asks the man with a slight grin. He has shaggy blonde hair and wears a black kosode, black hakama, and a white hoari with a symbol on the back of it. “My name is Kisuke Urahara, nice to meet you,” he introduces himself as.
I stood up loosing my voice. Shaking my head, I take his hand and shake it. “My name is Enzeru Ichimaru, nice to meet you,” I smile and bow to him.
“Hm…….. You don’t happen to have to have a brother names Gin, do you? He has silver hair and a big smile?” Kisuke asks.
My face lights up and I squeal, “Yes, oh my gosh! Do you know him? Is he alright? Is he safe? Where is he?”
“Whoa, hold on a second. He’s fine. He’s at the soul society. Um…. Well, I’m sorry, but once you get to the spirit world, you will forget everything of your life before,” Kisuke informs.
“You mean Gin forgot all about me? Well, can you at least tell him about his family, please? Tell him that we all love him,” I beg as tears roll down my cheeks.
“Sure, I don’t think it’s ever happened that a soul reaper meets someone’s family before, it’s interesting. Anyways, I should take you to the spirit world. Do you have any regrets?” Kisuke asks.
Wow, it’s really true. Shaking my head, I watch as he puts the hilt of his sword to my forehead. Light engulfs my vision as Kisuke disappears and my mind goes blank. Good bye Gin….
April 6th
5th Division
“Excuse me, Ichimaru. Can I speak with you for a second?” Kisuke asks the silver haired boy.
“Hm? Yes Captain Urahara?” Gin questions Kisuke as he glances at his captain Shinji Hirako and Lieutenant Sosuke Aizen.
“Well I was at the world of the living and I met this girl there. She was really beautiful,” Kisuke starts.
“I’m sorry Captain, but what does this have to do with me?” Gin interrupts.
“Well, she was your sister. Her name was Enzeru Ichimaru. She wanted me to tell you that your family loves you and some things about your family. You have two sisters and a mother and a father. Oh, and a grumpy grandmother. Your older sister Kitsune is a lawyer. Your father died seven years before you died and your mother is ill. You died in a train accident and Enzeru was killed. Guess your family was rich and targeted and she was shot two times. Her funeral was yesterday and she’s in the spirit world right now,” Kisuke informs Gin.
Kisuke could see for a second that Gin slit his eyes open, but only a second. His once faded smile reappears. “Ah, that’s real funny Captain. I almost believed you for a second. Please excuse me,” Gin excuses himself.
Gin walks away, not glancing once behind him as he leaves the three men.
“You really shouldn’t tease my men, Kisuke,” Shinji sighs.
“I wasn’t teasing him. I really did meet his sister. Here’s a picture of her, Kitsune and Gin. Then here’s one picture of their parents. Please give them to Gin,” Kisuke defends himself.
“Whoa, she is beautiful. Yeah, I’ll give them to him. Please excuse us, Aizen has a lot of paper work he has to do for us,” Shinji snickers.
The three of them depart laughing, well not Sosuke.
April 6th
Spirit World
I open my eyes to find myself in front of gates. Wow, these gates are a lot bigger then the ones at home. Wait! I remember home! That Kisuke guy lied! Wait, or maybe I’m not suppose to remember, but I’m just some freak that does. Yes? I can’t believe I can still look for Gin now.
“What’s your name?” asks a boy with blonde hair sitting next to a boy with red spiky hair.
Should I pretend I don’t know my name? What if people remember their name only? Oh well. “Um….. My name is Enzeru Ichimaru,” I reply.
The two boys’ faces show pure puzzlement and I finally see the list with my name and picture at the bottom. Oh gosh, they were supposed to tell me my name. Oh well.
“Izuru contact the soul society,” the red head orders.
“Wait! Can you tell Gin I say hello. Also, tell Kisuke Urahara that he was wrong and he scared the crap out of me for telling me that I would lose my memory, okay?” I ask.
Izuru nods and dashes off through the big gates.
“So you remember your life before?” asks the red head.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to see my brother. Um…. Is this not normal that I can remember?” I question.
“Yeah, it’s the most freakish thing ever, but I personally think it’s awesome. Anyways, I’m not trying to scare you, but you will probably be questioned or something. Probably run through some experiments by Captain Urahara. You mentioned him?” the boy explains.
“Yes, he was the one who saves me from the masked monster and told me that I would forget everything,” I reply.
“Oh, it’s Renji by the way. Nice to meet you,” Renji introduces himself.
-Levi 4laugh
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