Death Is Only The Beginning

Chapter 7: New Faces

It was Kagome’s first day back to class since her discharge from the hospital only two days prior. She’d had a hard time trying to find someone to look after Aya while she was in class but was relieved, and mildly surprised, when Captain Yamamoto had offered to let the young girl play in his office while she was busy. She heard later on from her own Captain that he had a soft spot for kids and would occasionally take special interests in some of the shinigami because he’d never had any children of his own. But now as Kagome entered the lecture hall that this particular class was held in, she noticed that something seemed off about the atmosphere in the room. Despite the amount of people already in their seats it was unnaturally quiet. She felt dozens of pairs of eyes on her and felt her breathing and heart rate pick up a notch as she hurried down the steps to her usual seat. And for the first time since the beginning of her journey through the Feudal Era…Kagome felt like an outcast.

Once their teacher arrived class continued as normal except that Kagome was trying to concentrate on taking notes instead of the fact that the two or three seats around her in each direction were empty. The air around her felt heavy with all the gazes she could feel on her person and she breathed a sigh of relief when class was over and the other students cleared out of the room in record time. Slowly gathering her books into a well organized pile, Kagome stood and shuffled up the steps to leave as she tried not to think about what her other classes would be like. But once she stepped into the hallway she felt a firm grip latch onto her arm and drag her in the opposite direction that she was supposed to go. She turned a questioning gaze upward to see the back of a head of crimson-red hair. “R-Renji?!”

“Shut up…” He threw over his shoulder. “You’re playing hooky from your next class. I’ll call it official shinigami business if anyone asks, but you and me gotta talk.” There was a level of seriousness in his voice that left Kagome only able to nod silently and follow after him.

After a few minutes Kagome found herself being pushed to sit on the ground at the base of a tree in some kind of forest near the Academy. “Where are we??” She questioned as she set her books to the side and looked up at him expectantly. She could tell there was something on his mind and that he was having a hard time getting around to saying it. But this was a different side of Renji that she hadn’t seen before and decided to hear him out.

He sighed before running a hand through his hair as the other went to his hip and he looked away from her absently. “I used to come here when I was in the Academy…with Kira and Hinamori. Look…I heard what happened. I wanted to…I just……AUGH!! Why is this so damn hard?!” He yelled as he abruptly sat in the grass across from her, putting his head in his hands.

Kagome was about to say something when he lifted his head and looked her dead in the eye. They sat like that for a while as he took a few deep breaths before saying, “Why were you taking care of those kids in the Rukongai before I came to get you that day?”

Kagome was slightly taken back by the sudden question but answered truthfully, “Because they needed me. They needed someone to feed them, protect them, and love them. They were alone and needed a family…and I needed a family again too.”

“I’m from the Rukongai too…I lived in District 78. I can guaren-damn-tee it was rougher than where you lived, but we made it work. We didn’t have anyone to look after us, so I guess I sorta…respect what you did for those kids. I hate how it turned out, but that’s part of life out there. Some people make it and some don’t. It’s not always fair either. A lot of my friends died out there, but I still had Rukia. We came here and stood by each other because we were all we had. And then Byakuya took her away too. She’s his sister now so things are harder, but we still have each other…”

“Renji?? Why are you telling me-”

“I’m not finished yet. Now…I know you lost those other kids, but you have to remember that you still have that one girl. You’re all each other have now. Make sure that nobody comes between that!” He said as he pointed at her making her lean back some with wide eyes. This definitely wasn’t what she had expected from following him. “And as for how all those idiots in the Academy act…I say screw em. Everybody already heard about what happened…about what you did after the Hollow’s were gone. And now a lot of people feel threatened…especially the people in those classes. You’re stronger than anyone in those classes can hope to be and they know it so they’re intimidated. You may not be able to control it all yet, but that’s why you have to practice…so you can show those rich punks that anybody can rise through the ranks and so you can protect the people you care about the most. You got that??”

Kagome sat in awe of the little speech he’d given her and had to admit that she did feel a little better. She had caught herself being a little distant from everyone, even Aya, over the past few days and knew it was because she still felt guilty for not protecting her family better. And then with what happened during class it was sure to have gotten worse, but Renji had made some good points. She still had Aya and Aya still had her. They would be there for each other and try again here inside the Court walls where Kagome knew they would be safe. She looked at Renji as he stared her down, waiting for some kind of acknowledgment as a blush slowly crept onto his cheeks. But with a warm smile and a nod she said, “I understand. Thanks Renji…I needed to hear that.”

“Good…” He huffed in response as he crossed his arms over his chest.

It was quiet for a few moments as the air around them began to get thick and uncomfortable causing them to shift and fidget without looking at each other. “Umm…Renji?? We…we just had one of those…bonding moments, didn’t we???”

He was quiet for a minute before answering in a grumble, “Yeah…I think so. But if anybody asks I’ll deny it! You’re still a crazy demon woman!”

“Right back at ya, jerk.” She said as they pushed themselves off the ground and went their separate ways.

~*~*~*~

Later that night Kagome and Aya were walking hand in hand down the street on their way home from eating supper when Kagome was approached by Lieutenant Ise. She temporarily released the child’s hand to give a respectful bow and listen to what the Lieutenant had to say. But as that was going on, Aya was looking around her without any interest as to what the adults were discussing. She caught sight of a grassy area with trees and flowers down one of the alleyways behind them and decided to go pick some flowers to decorate her new home with Kagome.

When Kagome finished her discussion with Nanao about reporting to her Captain’s office in the morning as opposed to going to class she was a little relieved that she wouldn’t have to relive the day’s events. Turning to where she’d left her tiny companion she felt her heart skip a beat at seeing a vacant space instead. “Aya?!” She shouted. She hadn’t heard her make any noise and briefly wondered if she’d been kidnapped right out from under her. ‘Calm down,’ she thought, ‘if someone had broken in and taken her they would have had enough spirit energy for me to sense them coming…or for the Lieutenant to sense at the very least. She couldn’t have gone far…’ And with that Kagome started scouting possible directions Aya could have gone. Once she spotted the more wooded area down the alley, she was almost positive that’s where she’d have the best luck.

Aya had found many pretty flowers as she continued to make her way through the trees, but stopped when she came into a clearing leading up to a hill. At the top of the hill was a lone figure sitting in the grass, resting against tree, just looking up at the sky. It looked like he was talking to someone, but Aya couldn’t see another person except for herself anywhere around. So for the time being, she just stood quietly and watched the strange person who appeared to be talking to the moon.

Kagome pushed her way past branches and through underbrush as she called out Aya’s name. When she finally saw the silhouette of the small girl at the edge of the trees she rushed forward and said, “Aya! You know you shouldn’t wander away from me. You could get lost! I was very, very worried…” But she trailed off when Aya turned to her with a ‘shh’ and pointed back up to the top of the hill.

“It’s not nice to interrupt someone when they’re talking, Kagome. What do you think he’s doing??”

“I don’t know, but we should leave him alone. Come on, let’s go home.” Kagome urged as she tried to get Aya to follow her.

But Aya felt oddly drawn to the person talking to the moon. He seemed lonely and she knew what loneliness was like. She didn’t think it was right to just leave without saying hello since she’d practically eavesdropped on his private moment, so ignoring Kagome’s pleas to stop she ran up the hill and stood next to the man. “Hello.” She said as she took in his appearance from an up-close view. “Why do you look like a fox??”

Kagome ran up the hill in an attempt to stop Aya, but arrived just in time to hear her question laced with an innocence that only she could pull off. She almost tripped when she noticed that the girl could have possibly just offended a Captain she’d yet to meet. “Aya…that’s not a polite question.” She chastised. Turning to the Captain she bowed deeply and said, “I’m very sorry, Captain…for disrupting your peace and for any disrespect or offense.”

Komamura bristled slightly at having two strangers so close to him with his helmet off. He’d removed it in the solitude of the clearing not expecting to be interrupted. But seeing the question still shining in the large eyes of the young girl, he looked to her and asked, “Are you not afraid of the way I look, child??”

Aya shook her head in a negative answer before she said, “Kagome always says that you should never judge a person by how they look. You should always get to know them first so you can see what’s on the inside…besides, I like your ears! They’re cute.”

Komamura just looked down at the strange little girl and said, “Then Kagome is very wise. What’s your name?”

“Aya,” she responded. “And this is Kagome!”

Kagome watched with slight nervousness as the Captain extended a large hand for her to shake. “I am Komamura Sajin, Captain of the Seventh Division.”

“Higurashi Kagome,” she returned, “unseated member of the Eighth Division.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Miss Higurashi. You’ve caused quite a stir amongst several of the divisions. And if what you’re teaching this child is any indication, I would say that it’s a very good thing. This world could use more people like you.”

“Thank you, Captain.” She said with a bow of her head. “And please call me Kagome. I hope to see you again, but it’s getting late and I need to get Aya to bed. Captain Yamamoto is busy tomorrow so I’m going to have to get her up early to find someone else to watch her.”

“It’s usually pretty tame around my division and I like children…they’re honest. I wouldn’t mind watching her in the least if you don’t mind her staying with someone like myself.”

“You mean someone with a gentle heart who just happens to have a little more hair their head?? I don’t mind at all.” She said and smiled as he let out a deep laugh. “But…can I just do one thing??” She asked timidly.

“And what would that be?”

Kagome slowly reached over and gently rubbed his soft ears as he began to make a noise similar to a purr making Aya laugh and join in as well.

~*~*~*~

Kagome dropped Aya off at the Seventh Division the next morning –which earned her more than a few odd looks– before heading off to see her own Captain. When she arrived it wasn’t a surprise to see Nanao as the only one in the office and she pointed Kagome towards the roof with an aggravated huff as she sorted through more paperwork. Kagome then found herself walking carefully along the rooftop to sit down next to her Captain and wait for him to acknowledge her. “Good morning, Kagome. I heard you made another friend last night.” He said in a leisurely tone as he lifted the edge of his hat to get a better look at her. “Lie down and get some sun so I don’t have to look so far up.” He instructed with a smile.

She obeyed and once she was settled she responded to his first statement, “Word sure does get around quick here. And yes, Aya and I met Captain Komamura.”

“Was he wearing that helmet of his?”

“No, and I was so worried that Aya had offended him when she asked why he looked like a fox…but he was very nice about it. He’s watching her today since you said you needed to see me about something.”

“Ah yes…well at first we thought it might be a little soon for you, but in light of recent events me and Old Man Yama have agreed that you should get some experience in the living world. It’s something that all the Academy students go through, though they usually go in a big group. But squad members do it too and we think you’re ready. You’ll stay with one of the contacts we have in one of the more spiritually active areas for a week and then come back and write up a report. Very basic…occasionally boring…you’ll like the people though. I’m sure either Ichigo or Kisuke will give you a crash course on what to do once you get there. I’ve heard that Kisuke’s actually pretty good at the crash course thing.” He said with a chuckle. “So what do you think?”

“A week?? What about Aya? I can’t take her with me on something like that.”

“I’m sure either Sajin or myself will be able to watch her while you’re gone. She’ll be in good hands and won’t have a scratch on her when you get back.”

“Well…if you’re sure you won’t mind…and it is a sort of mission. I guess I’ll say when do I leave??”