[10] Hiro Attachi <persistence of memory, part #5>

[Aicerno]

<Self-assigned Mission>
Hiro Attach, 10th Division
Persistence of Memory, Part V
Act I
<1,267 words>
Author's note: Acts II-III will be up by weeks end.

Himizu looked at Hiro as he began walking towards the shrine. She kept pace with him, and said, “Would you object to training with me? I can help you with your tracking, and maybe even with shunpo… you have about a day and a half left to your mission at this point.”

Hiro thought it over, and then said, “It may be easier that way. As it is now, should any stronger arrancar show up, I cannot fight them as I am. If we work as a team, it would be better for us and safer for you as well. If there was anything that worried me, it would be how Daguro Seto-Taicho is going to react to this situation.”

She nodded and then asked, “So why is shunpo so hard for you?”

“It’s a matter of how I died in this world,” Hiro replied. “When I was here taking pictures of that shrine, right before the earthquake… I felt as though… it was like having a premonition, and I saw this woman standing beside me inside the shrine. I couldn’t hear what she was saying, but her lips were moving as though saying ‘see you soon’… I think. I began running towards where the visitor center was being constructed and was almost there when the earthquake hit. Not taking my own safety into consideration, I watched as the building began to collapse. I raced inside, worried about the people inside and tripped on a piece of rope that had been dropped by one of the workers on the skylight. As I landed on my back, a steel rod fell and pierced my eye…”

“So that’s why you wear the eye-patch,” she whispered. “And you’re not good at shunpo because you’re afraid that if you move too fast, then you will stop paying attention to what’s around you… prompting a repeat of what happened before?”

“Hai,” Hiro replied. “And as a result, I’ve focused on the areas that I felt would help me best… reiatsu and Zanjutsu.”

“Do you think you’re overcoming your fear now?” she asked. “If you had shunpo’d, you would have arrived sooner to fight that pseudo-arrancar.”

“I know that,” he replied, and then added, “But yes, I think after this… I am overcoming my fear now. Not that I will stop being attentive…”

“Good, race you to the shrine,” Himizu replied grinning. She took off using shunpo, and then remembering what he had learned in class, took off after her. He made it through five flash steps before he had to stop for a breath, but soon started gaining on the shrine. Finally, he arrived and sat in seiza on the ground.

“Not bad,” Himizu replied. “I’ll see you at the visitor center…” she ran off, using the flash-step again, and then Hiro started giving chase again, though taking a different direction. As they raced their course, she smiled as she saw Hiro catching up on her. Too far off to communicate with, she finally stopped on the roof of the visitor center. When he caught up to her, his chest heaving from the effort, she smiled.

“So how was it Hiro-san,” she asked. “Have a good run?”

“I knew I couldn’t keep up taking your same direction,” he grinned. “So I took a short cut. And yeah, I had a good run, what about Ichiro, Ran, and Sandy though?”

“Right now,” she said testing the air with a small burst of reiatsu. “They’re in the process of tracking us… using the guidelines you gave them. It’ll be good practice, and safer than waiting for a hollow to show up. Given these times, you never know just what will turn up.”

Hiro laughed and said, “They almost lost the track, but they’re nearing the shrine now. Want to spar? There’s a field off to our southwest that looks ideal for the purpose.” She nodded in agreement and disappeared from view. Hiro groaned, and then laughed. After making sure nothing untoward was occurring he took off after her.

On arriving at the spot, Himizu drew her zanpakuto, and waited for Hiro to arrive. At the rate he was going, between five to ten flash steps between breaks, she figured he would take longer. But no need to underestimate him, she thought, especially if he used another short cut to shorten the distance. She heard the wheezing from behind her, before she felt the reiatsu, and dodged his attack by doing a front roll. As she rose to her feet, she smiled, “Glad to see you could join me Hiro-san. How was the run?”

“Pretty good,” he laughed. “It’s warming me up. At one stretch I actually got in fifteen steps before I had to stop again.” He blocked her strike, and spun around, making a second strike against her. She raised her zanpakuto diagonally, and blocked it; and then jumped out of the way as the scabbard swung towards her.

“You like to use both huh,” she asked.

“It comes in handy,” Hiro replied. “I know a few tricks to use with the scabbard.” She attacked again, this time using her own scabbard as well, and the ringing pealed through the air.

“What material did you make the scabbard of; and what are those objects inlaid upon it?” she asked.

“Ebony and those charms are gold and silver tigers,” he replied. He attacked again, causing a small tear to appear in her sleeve. As they fought back and forth, they felt a change in reiatsu as the students got closer along their trail. After two hours had passed, they stopped their sparring as the students finally appeared on the edge of the field.

“Ah Sempai-Hiro-San,” Ichiro said, his chest heaving from the effort. “I didn’t know that you were so good at the flash step. You guys are hard to track.”

“Heh, arigato Ichiro-san,” Hiro answered. “I’m improving AT flash step; I wouldn’t say I’m good at it. “Fifteen steps and I’m already exhausted… Although fifteen steps is better than I’ve ever done before…”

“And still able to wield his zanpakuto,” Ichiro laughed as he rolled his eyes. “Sempai-Hiro-san, you’re going to make one hell of a captain one day. Are there any more things that we’re going to find out about you?”

“I will tell you when I’m ready to tell,” Hiro smiled. “Until then, you’ll just have to be patient Ichiro-san. You three have found out more about me in this mission than any in Saishuu-Gotei know.”

“How come you don’t talk about your self that much,” Ichiro asked.

Hiro frowned and then asked, “Have you ever known me to talk much about personal things? There are some things that are meant to be shared between close friends, when it is time to share them. If anything, I suppose this is to remind me that there’s a lot I need to talk to my friends about when we get back. At this point, I’m willing to bet that Sanshibo and Hanno are probably worried about me…”

“You mean they don’t know?” Ichiro asked.

“No,” Hiro replied and gave a rueful smile. “And now you are making me feel guilty because you three found out something they should have known long ago; although I suppose, the only reason I didn’t tell them is that I didn’t really know myself.”

“But now that you do,” Himizu said. “You’ll tell them?”

“I will,” Hiro replied. He looked at the setting sun, and said, “I think we should add some Konso to our practice before nightfall. There’re some things I want to practice before we leave.”

[Aicerno]

Self-assigned Mission: Persistence of Memory part V
10 Division, Hiro Attachi, Unseated
Act II
<1,572 Words>

At the Academy in Sereitei, classes were going on as normal as could be, given the state of war with the arrancar and Excelsior. The older students who weren’t placed on the front lines with their divisions acted as guards for the newer students as they made their way from class to class. Short of the main hall that housed Chamber 46, as well as overall headquarters for the Saishuu—Gotei 13, the Academy was the second best protected building in all of Soul Society.

Sanshibo and Hanno walked down the hallway, as they made their way towards a class on performing Castus and Kidou, and as they went, Sanshibo kept her eyes on the ground. Finally, she heaved a sigh, and said, “Hanno-kun, I’m worried about Hiro-kun… I know he’s supposed to be gone for five days… but that day when his reiatsu flared, and then vanished…”

“Hai, Sanshibo-chan,” Hanno replied wearily. “You’re not the only one who cares for Hiro-kun you know… still though, I’m sure Hiro is going to be fine. As much as I hate admitting it, he’s probably the strongest of the three of us—even though he’s not as good at kidou and hohou as you and I are.”

“I know,” she replied suppressing a shudder. “That is why it scared me to feel his reiatsu vanish like that… but then there are the dreams.”

“Dreams,” Hanno asked. “Hiro’s a big believer in dreams… I just find it odd that we can even dream here as we did in the other world. What kind of dreams?”

“Eh,” she blushed furiously and kept her face to the ground as she walked. “They keep saying the same thing, that Hiro’s alright and that he’s in good hands.” She didn’t feel as though she could say anything more, because every time she felt like she ought to break the vow of silence that Hiro asked of her the night before he left… she kept seeing the same dream, a woman wearing a white kimono with pink cherry and chrysanthemum blossoms on it; her black hair tied up into a top-knot. And the message had always been the same, do not tell, Hiro is fine and safe. There were no words spoken, but the message was clear all the same. Sighing she said, “I think we need to have a little chat with Hiro when he comes back.” She knew it was lame, but at the same time, it was as close to being able to cleanse her self of the burden of silence that Hiro had placed on her.

Hanno frowned, and then laughed, “You women are scary when you say things like that. Not that I’ll disagree with you on that, as it feels like he’s been holding something out on us. I’d like to know what, but if he were to die first—I don’t know if I could forgive him for that.”

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready to tell us,” Sanshibo answered sadly. “If he’s still alive that is… It’s hard to tell when they’re on a mission that requires keeping their reiatsu suppressed, and then to have that sudden burst… and then nothing… what does it mean, Hanno-kun?”

“I don’t know, Sanshibo-chan, I really don’t know. If your dreams are telling you that he’s fine,” Hanno replied as he took her hand and squeezed it—as much for his own comfort as hers. “Then all we can do is trust in Hiro and believe that he’s well.” She nodded her head silently in agreement as they made the turn for the classroom.

The fourth day of the mission rose bright, though the pink in the sky combined with the billowing clouds gave indication that a change in the weather was coming. Hiro stood atop the crest of a hill looking out over the valley, lost in silent contemplation. Taking out the cell phone, he placed a call into headquarters. “Ohayō gozaimasu Captain Seto-Taicho,” Hiro said. “Hiro Attachi reporting in, all is currently well—there will be a full report on our return to Sereitei.”

He felt her reiatsu before he saw her, as he closed the cell phone down, and placed it in an inner pocket of his kimono. Looking over his shoulder at her, he said, “Have a good sleep Himizu Fubuki-san?”

“Hai,” she replied. “And you? Reporting in to let them know that the rumors of your death were greatly exaggerated, huh?”

“Pretty much,” he agreed as she squatted beside him and hugged her knees. “I don’t know what’s going to happen,” he continued. “But tomorrow is the day the students and I return to Sereitei. They may be sending a party down to escort us back, or they may not. If they do send a party, I suggest you get out of here quickly; if not, leave at your own discretion. I’ll have to tell the truth, although lightly embellished somewhat to protect you.”

She nodded in agreement, though silently, and then she asked, “Why?”

“Why am I going out of my way to protect you?” he asked in return. “Or why am I willing to be a friend to someone who wanted to kill me?” He paused, and then continued, “Whether as humans, or as spirits, people though they will often travel alone… were never meant to be alone. When it comes to such things, I agree with Ichiro and the rest on that matter. And once given, friendships are never lightly retracted.”

She smiled, and said, “If you ever want to become a vaizard, look me up…”

“Heh,” he replied. “I may look you up sometime, but it won’t be for that. I’m strong, and I’ll get stronger, but I’m content with where I am. I don’t see the need to become a vaizard. That was the path that you chose, and now you must walk it. Where we can, we’ll walk together. We’ll fight together, or each other as situations occur. But all in all, at least you have a friend, eh?”

She nodded in acceptance, and then said, “Time to play hide-and-seek, Hiro. You’ve got until sunset to find me. And try not to use up too much time doing soul funerals for the ghosts here; I’ve never seen such a quantity before.”

“Don’t worry,” he replied. “I’ll find you.” He watched as she shunpo’d out of sight, and then he knelt in seiza and began to meditate. As he went through the nine-fingers weaving, he felt strands of air blending together, until reiraku appeared all around him. Remembering her reiatsu, he grabbed a hold of a strangely colored reiraku, and then began running along the path that it was taking him as the other reiraku disappeared from sight. Alternating flash steps with ordinary running, Hiro made his way along the track created by her reiraku. Occasionally, he would stop as the trail would grow ‘cold’, but after searching around, he found it and carried on.

Suddenly, he stopped as the trail seemed to grow warmer, and then it was as if the reiraku was curving around on itself… he dove forward and came up with his zanpakuto and scabbard blocking Himizu’s zanpakuto.

“Nice block,” she said. “So you figured out how to track my reiraku huh? And without giving me as much as a word of warning…” she laughed as she jumped over Hiro’s slice at her legs. Landing, she said, “Would you be interested in feeling the reiatsu of a vaizard, masked?”

“Of course,” Hiro replied. He watched as she slid her left hand across her face and a hollow-mask covered her. It was almost as if by that one act, her reiatsu had climbed into the shikai level without even her calling shikai. He frowned, and then said, “How do the vaizard compare to the arrancar?”

“Well,” she said as she swung her zanpakuto as he dodged doing a combination flash-step and sideways roll. “I’ve fought with lesser arrancar, though never a full Espada. The nice thing about pseudo-arrancar is that they’re easy to kill; a Gillian class-Arrancar is another matter altogether. I went up against a Gillian-class arrancar, one of the treces and I had to go to bankai… my bankai combined with a cero blast certified that arrancar as a deceased arrancar… though I got knocked out of action for a week as I had tried to work with my lower levels of compressed zanpakuto, and then shikai.” They traded blows, catching each other in very brief openings that closed as soon as their blades touched skin.”

“So you can do a cero,” Hiro mused; given the reiatsu coming out of her, he couldn’t say that he was surprised. The sweat began to pour off of him as he dodged blow after blow, and blood dripped from their wounds as they clashed and then parted.

“If you can help it though,” she continued. “Try not to let them get you into bankai to kill them. I think they have people who like to study their opponents spiritual pressures when in full combat mode, and try to fix it so the odds are in their favor. If you can get your self to a point where your compressed zanpakuto and a shikai are enough to kill them, then you’ll be fine—so long as it’s an Adjuchas class or lower arrancar. The Espada and Vastolorde are hassles and require more effort to defeat.”

[Aicerno]

Self-Assigned Mission: Persistence of Memory, Part #5
Hiro Attach, 10th Division, Unseated
Act III
<1,359 words>

They fought back and forth as the ground shook in their battle. As they moved, a large column of dust began to build. Finally, Hiro stepped back, and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Had enough for now,” she asked, removing her hollow-mask.

“Hai,” he replied. “I suggest we get some onigiri, as fighting with that kind of spiritual pressure makes you hungry.” Sliding the zanpakuto into its scabbard, Hiro turned and said, “Where can we find a good food shop around here?”

“Matsumoto’s,” she replied. “It's a good place to eat, if you don’t mind the fact that she runs a brothel on the side, as well as an eating establishment. But she has the best food in town, I think.”

“Do we need gigai?” Hiro asked.

“It may be easier for us if we don’t use that,” Himizu said. “If for no other reason than she would try to get us to utilize the other side of her business.”

“Heh,” Hiro replied. “Alright then, let’s gather the others and get something to eat.”

The five people arrived at a small tea house over looking the Sea of Japan, on the southwestern end of Hokkaido. They approached the entry and Himizu knocked on the door. A young woman stepped out, sniffed around as though testing the air, and then called out, “Mama! Some more of those people are here. That woman is too…”

An elderly woman came shuffling up to the door with a cane in her hand, her eyes almost completely shut. “Ah, Himizu… no matter the separation of life and death, you still can’t stay away can you? Please come in, and bring your friends too.”

”She can see us?” Hiro asked as they followed the elderly woman inside.

Himizu answered quietly, “no. But she can feel us… although the day she didn’t recognize me would be the day all of hell froze over—to use the Gaijin expression.”

“Why’s that?” Ichiro asked.

“Because I used to work here, before I died,” she replied. “I doubt if any of the workers know how old ‘mama’ is, she looked about the same as when I was here.”

“I know you’re talking about me, Himizu,” the old lady said as she made her way back to the kitchen. “You were always my favorite, despite all the trouble you gave me.” She made a soft clucking sound in her throat. “It’s good you came back, Himizu-san,” she continued. “Mama’s not going to be around much longer. That young woman that greeted you at the door, she can see spirits much better than I can. I can only smell ‘em. She can actually see blurs. I don’t want to have you barred from this place should you need some food—finding girls like that are hard. But she has a good sense of business and a good head on her shoulders. I like her…”

They stopped in a sheltered alcove just opposite the kitchen. When she had seated, the woman who had greeted them at the door entered. “How many will there be mama?” she asked.

“Six dear,” Matsumoto said quietly. “Five spirits and myself, and if you’d be a dear, please bring the special tea.”

“Madam Himizu’s blend?” she asked and upon getting confirmation, departed.

“How often do you come here,” Hiro asked as they situated themselves at a small table off of the kitchen.

“Not often enough apparently,” Himizu said quietly. “Once a year if I’m lucky… this time will make my sixth time in one year that I’ve been here…”

“From the feel of her life force,” Hiro said as he let out a small burst of reiatsu. “I’d say that she’s nearing the crossing point between life and death.” Himizu looked as though he had confirmed a suspicion that she had had.

“When she goes, could you do me a favor and perform the Konso on her for me,” Himizu asked quietly. Hiro arched an eyebrow at the request, and then slowly nodded his assent. Taking out the issue-cellphone, he programmed some numbers to it, and then set it. Finally, he placed back inside his mofuko as their food approached.

“Here you go Mama,” the young woman said. “Rice and miso soup for you and your friends to start with, followed by pickled eel and smoked salmon.” She sat the bowls of rice and soup in front of their places. Those for the spirits had the chopsticks sticking out of the rice, and the spoons from the soup.

“Thank you dear,” Matsumoto said quietly as she picked up her chopsticks and began to eat. “Before they go, make some onigiri for them to take with them.”

“Yes Mama,” she replied. “Please knock when you’re ready for the next course.” And with that, she exited the room.

“I’m glad you’re back to visit us, Himizu,” Matsumoto said. “I don’t know if we’ll get another chance to talk… but I wanted to apologize. I lapsed that day… knowing how some of the girls hated you for keeping your distance in everything that went on here. I should have made the fugu m’self. But I was sick that day? Was it poison too, so that your enemies could have access to you? The girl who made the fugu, I kicked her out after you died. But there was nothing more I could do. ‘Bout the gladdest I’ve ever been was when you came back to me. Living or spirit I would know your scent anywhere. I hope you can forgive this old woman her faults, as I’ve not long to go.”

Himizu listened to the old woman’s monologue, as a tear crested down her cheek. “The vaizard are calling a gathering again,” she whispered. “After this I won’t be able to come see you Mama. You took care of me as best you knew how. We’re enjoying the food, and when it comes time for you to pass over… my friend who’s with me now will come and make sure your journey is safe.”

As they finished their servings of rice and soup, the old woman raised her fist to knock on the table as the shoji slid open and the woman walked in. “Ready for the main course,” she asked as she collected the dishes. Exiting the room again, she came back with another set of dishes containing the main courses. Again, those for the spirits had the chopsticks resting on the plate, while a new pair was placed on the table in front of Matsumoto.

As they finished their course, Matsumoto looked around and sighed. Finally the young woman came in with five bamboo tubes filled with twenty-seven onigiri. “Here you are Mama,” she said. “One for each of your guests, and each container holds twenty seven onigiri.”

“You’re a good girl,” Matsumoto replied. “Himizu would be proud of you, as I am proud of you. Keep up the good work, the gods will bestow great honors upon you when it comes time. But now, I need to sleep.”

“Of course Mama,” she replied. “Let me help you to bed. As we speak, the food that we served to the spirits is being taken to your alter for preparation prior to being given to the river spirits.”

“That’s a good girl,” Matsumoto smiled. “Goodbye dear Himizu, and do take care of your self. Be a good girl, and take care of your friends too.

The group watched as Matsumoto and the young girl disappeared from the room, and then picking up their bamboo containers, proceeded to exit the building as they had entered. As they exited the building, Hiro asked quietly, “What was that about the vaizard meeting?”

“Please don’t ask me that,” Himizu replied. “It’s a secret…”

“You know what Division I’m in,” Hiro replied. “If it’s a threat against Sereitei, then I’ll be assigned to deal with it.”

“And you’d have to kill me just to get the information out anyways,” she sighed heavily as Hiro nodded in reluctant agreement.

“What are you two so worried about?” Ichiro piped up. “After that excellent feast, you should be happy! I doubt I’ve ever been so full.”

Author's note: Cumulative word count for Part V is 4,198 words

[Xabre]

Week: 1
Division: 10th
Name: Hiro Attachi
Task Name: Persistence of Memory, Part 5
Word Count: 4198

GRADES
Words written: 5
Spell and gram: 2
Storyline: 3
Total: 10

Assignment Grade: A
Points Awarded: 450

Comments:
Excellent as usual. Your storyline in this part is very good. Very good build up.