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smashconTitle: Behind the Clouds
Rating: PG
Prompt: Orenda (n.) – A mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to change their own lives
Fandom/Series: Naruto, One Piece, Fairy Tail and Bleach crossover
Word Count: 6072
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from the story and all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s) - Eichiiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Tite Kubo and Hiro Mashima.
Summary:
Four worlds, four heroines, one heart. A tribute to the beloved ladies of the ‘Big 4’ shonen manga.
Behind the Clouds
The moon was already high in the sky when she opened her eyes, its pale, silvery fingers casting a soft glow on every object illuminated; seemingly ethereal to the touch if she cared to reach out her fingers. Little by little, she felt the dark cloud of fear and panic suffocating her dissolve into the fabric of normality: the flickering flames of the fireplaces sprang into view while her ears gently registered the familiar sounds of a cupboard creaking followed by the gentle hiss of the kettle on the boil, the soft ticking sound of the old grandfather clock rhythmically somewhere overhead. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked down the dark, silent hallway.
The old woman looked up as she entered, concern etched on her features at the sight of the shivering blonde child at the doorway. “Ojou-sama, you should not be out of bed! The Master will be upset if he finds you wandering around at such a late hour…”
“Please, Spetto-san.” She swallowed, clutching her nightdress tightly to her chest; the luxurious silk material doing little for her against the biting sting of the night winter air. Even her fingers and teeth had begun to chatter, but they were nothing compared to the chilling terror she felt constricting her chest just moments ago. “I...I had a nightmare again.”
The elderly housekeeper sighed, reaching out to wrap the young girl into a warm hug. Even this late at night, Spetto-san smelt comfortingly of fresh laundered linen and newly baked bread. Mama had been different – Layla always smelt of something flowery, exotic; depending on what kind of perfume she wore that day. Even towards the end, when her voice was so weak it was nothing more than a whisper and she could barely open her eyes when Lucy came into the room; she always smelt like the summer breeze in a flower field.
“Will you read me a story?” Lucy mumbled, her voice muffled against the fabric of Spetto-san’s green dress. “From your book on the fireplace?” She added hopefully.
Spetto fell silent for a moment, her expression pensive as she regarded the child before her. Lucy knew the housekeeper was warring with herself, so she stuck her top lip out in a trembling pout and widened her hazel eyes pleadingly. Predictably, within a few seconds the elderly woman heaved a defeated sigh and took the thick, leather-bound book down from the mantelpiece above the kitchen fireplace. “All right, but only a short one this time.”
A small burst of happiness shot through her chest and the young girl quickly settled herself on Spetto’s vast lap. “How about we read…”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
She could still see the blood on the grass - dark, ugly stains right on the spot where they once had her birthday picnic. The defiance in her mother’s eyes as the Fishman pulled the trigger, never flinching even as the bullet struck her clean in the middle of her forehead, spraying droplets of sickening red all over the clean blades of grass as she fell heavily to the ground. Bile rose in her gut as the sounds of her and Nojiko’s hysterical screams played over and over again in her mind, mingled with the cold, cruel laughter of the man, no devil sitting in front of her.
“So how about it, little girl?” The huge Fishman Captain grinned, razor sharp teeth glinting as he stretched his thin blue lips in a sadistic smile while the rest of the Fishmen burst into raucous cheers. “A place in my crew in exchange for that pathetic village of yours. I’d say you were getting the best of both worlds really, any pirate worth their salt in East Blue would give their right arm to be part of the Great Arlong Pirates!”
She clenched her fist, hate fuelling every throb of her veins as the cacophony of mocking cheers increased in volume. Arlong’s electric blue-eyes gazed down on her, glinting with a malicious amusement - daring her to refuse. She knew what they wanted, but she would be damned if she gave them the satisfaction of ever seeing her cry again.
“100,000,000 beli. Then you will free Cocoyashi Village. In return, I will be your cartographer and draw maps for you. You promise,” she said quietly, blinking back her tears as she raised her chin determinedly to stare right back at his vile, hateful face.
He laughed again, his savage delight at her helplessness a chilling echo of this morning’s nightmare. “Hatchi.” He gestured to a strange, octopus-like Fishman nervously shuffling in the background. “Brand our newest recruit, will you?”
She could have sworn the octopus whispered an apology to her, but moments later the searing heat of the brand burned her left shoulder, leaving her dizzy and gasping with pain. She closed her eyes tightly, long after she felt cool air washing over her shoulder, afraid of what she knew was there.
As long as you’re alive, there will be better things later. And there will be many.
“Welcome to the Arlong Pirates, Nami.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Winter turned to spring, and soon it was time for school to start again. Lucy felt the stares of her classmates burning into her back as she took her place at the front of the class. The Heartfilia family were big names in the Kingdom of Fiore, and news of her mothers’ death had even made the front page. She knew that the other girls were unsure of how to approach her, so she decided not to make things any more awkward for them. As the bell rang for recess, she hurried to a secluded corner of the school field and drew out the leather book from her school satchel – the one Mama had helped her choose for her first day of school. Feeling a measure of comfort as her fingers traced the worn, leather cover, she flipped a page and started reading.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“You were screaming again last night.”
The petite brunette looked up in surprise, but her brother’s expression was as inscrutable as ever. Placing his chopsticks down on the delicate porcelain rice bowl, part of the family china that had been passed down through generations of Kuchikis, the Sixth Division Captain fixed the younger girl with an icy stare. “It has already been one year since the incident, has it not?”
She lowered her gaze. “Yes, nii-sama. The anniversary of his death is tomorrow.”
“For how long more will you continue to wallow in guilt and depression?” he said coolly, earning a shocked silence from the female Shinigami sitting opposite him. “Fuku-Taichou Shiba himself would surely be concerned at the amount of time you have spent in your room mourning him…”
She stood up abruptly, pushing her half-full rice bowl away from her. Her chopsticks clattered to the side, forgotten. “Please excuse me, nii-sama. I have eaten my fill for tonight.”
Byakuya’s blank mask wavered a fraction in pure shock, but the younger Kuchiki had already fled the dining room.
Thank you, Taichou...for letting me fight…
Ukitake Taichou’s face was expressionless, but Rukia didn’t miss the way his jaw twitched slightly as he nodded impassively at his subordinate’s final farewell. Blood continued trickling down the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki interspersed with her tears, making soft dripping sounds as they ran down the brilliant steel of her zanpakotou’s blade in silent rivulets.
She felt his arm shudderingly grasp her back as his breathing became more laboured.
“Kaien-dono,” she whispered for the umpteenth time that night, grief overwhelming her even as was suddenly overcome with the desperate need to say his name over and over again, as if saying it enough times would be enough to keep him with her.
Kuchiki…I’m sorry for putting you in danger with my selfishness. Thanks to you….I can leave my heart here.
Stumbling blindly out of the door, it was only then that she realised that the tears running down her cheeks were real.
I haven’t done anything worthy of a single word of thanks…the only person that I saved was myself.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Happy birthday, ojou-sama!”
Lucy sat up in bed, blinking heavily as the bedroom door was flung open and a crowd of people swarmed in, talking and laughing excitedly. Someone flung open the thick, lacy curtains while another person, who she belatedly recognised as Aed the cook, suddenly shoved a chocolate cake under her nose. ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ was spelled out in hot pink icing, her favourite colour. “For ojou-sama, I hope you like it!”
“Thank you,” she smiled at the group of loyal servants while they beamed back at the birthday girl in delight.
“May you grow prettier and wiser with each passing year,” trilled Ribbon happily, before passing her a stack of brightly wrapped parcels. “Now, I’m sure you’ll like these, the latest compilation of fairy tales from the Sout…”
“Is there one from Papa?” The blonde girl cut in eagerly, licking a bit of chocolate off her fingers. As with all of Aed’s cooking, the cake was absolutely delicious.
The servants unexpectedly fell silent. “Well, Master is very busy at the moment,” Aed said hesitantly, exchanging a nervous glance with Spetto and Ribbon. “But I’m sure he has something for you lat…”
Oblivious to the cook’s evident discomfort, Lucy piped up, “Since otou-sama is busy, then maybe I should make him something to cheer him up!”
“Ojou-sama, I’m not sure if that’s such a good id…”
But Lucy had already hopped out of bed and changed into her favourite pink dress. Running towards the kitchens, she called out, “Come on Aed! I want to make onigiri - I’m sure otou-sama will love it!”
Not wanting to disappoint the little girl on her birthday, the chef forced a smile on his face. “Please wait for me, ojou-sama!” Inside, he desperately hoped that the Master would be in a good mood.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Get up.”
The young kunoichi panted heavily, desperately clutching her sides as she struggled to her feet before falling heavily again. Mud splattered her face as she crashed to the ground, stinging her eyes and nose with its wet, slimy texture. Her limbs were burning, aching with the slicing of a thousand knives and she heard a slight crack from what was likely a twisted right ankle. Bloody gently oozed from a scrape on her left knee and she was sure by tomorrow she would have a colourful array of bruises decorating her stomach and thighs.
“That was the most pathetic performance I’ve seen from a genin in my entire career as a ninja.” Tsunade spoke softly, but her words stung more than if she had lashed out into one of her full-on, voluble tirades. And she knew it was a measure of the Hokage’s utter disappointment, maybe even shock at the incompetence of her combat abilities that prompted this unnerving, understated reaction.
“Either Kakashi has been neglecting your training, or the passing standards to be a Konoha genin have truly fallen into a deplorable state.” The blonde woman shrugged off her green kimono jacket, an ominous sign that signalled she meant business. “Get up, we will begin again.”
“I…can’t.”
The Hokage paused. “Did you say something, Sakura?” Her voice was still soft, but with a hint of dangerous intent undertone.
She swallowed heavily. “I…I’m sorry Hokage-sama. But I cannot continue.”
Silence reigned for several excruciating seconds before the older woman spoke again. “Fine. You are dismissed.”
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Hokage-sama. So I will see you tomorrow at…”
“No, you are dismissed. You are no longer my apprentice.”
Shock reverberated through her entire system as her jaw went slack. She scrambled desperately, “No Hokage-sama, that’s not what I me…”
Tsunade cut her off. “Ninja who have no will to suffer or sacrifice themselves for their comrades are not ninja.” She narrowed her amber eyes at the shrinking genin. “Tell me, Sakura – what do you think Naruto or Sasuke will have to do when you are tied up and captured by the enemy because you were too weak to defend yourself?”
Shame burned her cheeks as she felt the familiar wave of despair, helplessness start to engulf her.
Sakura, you’re…annoying.
She clenched her fist, even as it ached from the sudden movement. Recklessly throwing the last shuriken from her holster, she forced her hands to form the clone seal. “Bunshin no Jutsu!”
Predictably, the Hokage stopped both shuriken dead in their tracks, her clone shuriken promptly disappearing in a puff of smoke. A last feeble, futile show of resistance. Sakura dropped her head to the ground, letting the first droplets of rain splash across her face as tears threatened to leak out of her eyes.
She had failed them – again.
Failed before she had even started.
With every step she fell behind, Naruto and Sasuke were getting further and further away, the chasm between them growing wider and wider as her dream became an ever distant impossibility.
“So there’s still some fight left in you, ne?” A shadow loomed over her as the Hokage crouched down beside the forlorn pinkette. The next thing she knew, she felt green healing chakra lightly wash through her system, soothing her aching muscles.
“Male shinobi will always look down on kunoichi as being inferior,” Tsunade said softly, standing up and wiping her hands on her trousers. “Don’t give them another reason to think that they’re right. If you truly care about becoming stronger and protecting your teammates, then show me that you truly have what it takes to be a shinobi of Konoha.”
“Show me, that you have the Will of Fire.”
Stumbling to her feet, Sakura noted that while her balance remained wobbly, the throbbing ache in her right ankle was gone. Filled with a renewed sense of resolve, she drew her kunai. “I’m ready.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
She could still see the fallen rice cake lying in a crushed heap at the side of the study, the grains spilling awkwardly over the plush red carpet. The seaweed strips that she had cut so carefully to be the eyes and mouth lay set in a wide grin, just like when she had freshly arranged them this morning – as if it was mocking her for her foolish efforts.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you this morning, otou-sama.”
Jude Heartfilia merely let out an impatient grunt, his eyes still fixed on the mess of papers strewn about his desk. His brow was creased in concentration, and he continually muttered to himself and made little ticks on another piece of paper.
Pushing away the familiar pang of loneliness, the young Heartfilia heir turned to exit. “Good night, otou-sama,” she whispered.
“Goodnight, Lucy.” His voice was curt, but not as harsh as it had been earlier in the day.
As she closed the huge study doors, Bero suddenly beckoned to her from one of the drawing rooms. Placing a finger on his lips, the little wizened magician placed a small, wooden box in her arms. “Happy birthday, ojou-sama. This was a gift from your mother before she died – I was under strict instructions to pass this to you on your eleventh birthday.”
Lucy felt tears spring to her eyes again. “Mama…remembered my birthday?”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“ARLONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Even the heavens rang with her frenzied screams and deep inside, Nami felt something within her snap.
She felt numb.
Cold.
Panic rose inside her at her current state of unfeeling. Pain, anger, anguish – anything was better than this vacuum of empty helplessness; devoid of any emotion.
Grabbing the dagger hidden beneath her shorts, the orange-haired girl stabbed the blade deep into her left shoulder where she knew that vile and despicable tattoo marked her skin. A symbol of her slavery to her mother’s killer.
As the tip pierced her skin, Nami felt a macabre relief as a throbbing ache burst into her consciousness, sending her senses into overdrive as she drove the knife over and over again into the same spot.
“ARLONG! ARLONG! ARLONG!!!!!!!!!!!”
A skinny hand caught her arm as she was swinging the blade down again, knocking it safely out of her grip.
“What are you doing?!” she spat, slowly curling her fists as fury started to build at that infuriating straw-hatted boy’s insolence. “You don’t know anything about what’s been happening on this island for the last 8 years!”
“Ah, I don’t.”
His laconic reply only served to fuel her anger, and Nami felt her pent-up emotions start to build to an overwhelming crescendo of rage. “This is none of your business. I told you to leave the island didn’t I? So leave already!” She flung a fistful of sand backwards at Luffy, not caring if it actually hit him.
“Go away!” she screamed over and over again. Nami tried to direct all the pain she was feeling towards Luffy, his insistence at staying on her island, his persistent interference in her personal affairs…
Her hand suddenly dropped as her fury melted away. A sob wracked her body, and before she knew what was happening, tears were rolling furiously down her cheeks. As she finally gave in to the dam of despair and fear swallowing her from within, the broken young woman found herself turning to the silent figure standing behind her. “Luffy…help me.”
The rubber captain remained silent for a good few seconds, and for a split-second she wondered if he was going to abandon her, spit in her face and declare that helping her was the last thing he would do after the way she had betrayed him, stolen his ship, lied to him…
Instead, she felt something being placed on her head. Even through her tears, she realised that Luffy had given her his hat.
That precious straw-hat he treasured above all.
Taking a few steps back, he suddenly beat his chest and let out an enormous yell, “YOU BET I WILL!”
And for the first time in 8 long years, Nami felt hope.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
The ornate wooden box was surprisingly lighter than it looked. Setting it down on her bed, Lucy gently opened the cover; unsuccessfully stifling a sneeze as a plume of dust rose, clouding her vision momentarily.
It was only after her sneezing fit subsided that she noticed the slender, golden key nestled in the rich wine-coloured fabric lining the heart of the box. With trembling hands, she slowly ran her fingers over the smooth, shiny surface and intricate patterns and symbols carved on it.
Aquarius.
A distant memory of a water goddess, the smell of flowers, a fountain of blue…
The blonde girl reverently tucked the key in the pocket of her skirt. “I think it’s time I took my Celestial Spirit Training seriously. Thank you…”
She smiled determinedly.
“…Mama.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Pain shot through her entire body as its fangs sank into the soft flesh of neck. She felt the warm rush of blood spurt from the wound, before the Hollow ripped its fangs out violently.
Rukia collapsed to the ground.
“Shinigami!” The faint cry of the Human echoed behind her, as Rukia felt her vision start to go black from the sudden loss of blood. It was a serious wound, and the Shinigami knew that she wouldn’t be able to continue her fight after such a grievous injury. Luckily, it seemed she had managed to land a hit on the Hollow, as it temporarily paused its assault on them as it to bellow in pain. However, the wound wasn’t fatal and she knew that it would likely recover in a minute or two.
Coughing up blood, she cursed violently. “You fool! Did you think everything would end smoothly if you just gave the Hollow your Soul?!” Crawling to the side of the pavement, Rukia reached for her zanpakotou. Quelling her rising panic as she went through the options in her mental checklist, the Shinigami suddenly realised that there was only one possible thing that could be done if they were to have any hope of surviving this. She turned to the orange-haired kid, who was still staring at the Hollow in a state of catatonic shock and horror. “Do you want… to save your family?”
“Of course I do!” He yelled hysterically. “Is there a way?!”
Slowly, she gripped Sode no Shirayuki and pointed it at him. “Then… you have to become a Shinigami.”
Predictably, his eyes bulged in shock, maybe fear, maybe both at her audacious pronouncement but there was no time to waste. The Hollow’s cries were getting louder and the stench of its rotten reiatsu was getting stronger again. “Thrust this zanpakotou into your heart and I will pour my powers into you! I don’t know if this will work – but it’s the only way!”
The boy remained silent but when his hazel eyes met hers, she noticed with a jolt that there was absolutely no trace of fear in them. “Give me the sword, Shinigami.”
Even in such a time of panic, Rukia felt a strange magnetic power drawing her towards the stranger. She felt a mysterious sense of reassurance that this boy could be trusted. A sense that he had the power to save them all.
But beyond all that, she had a nagging feeling that they were on the brink of something momentous – that this boy had the power to turn their lives upside down. Uttering a quick prayer, Rukia decided to trust her instincts and give herself up to Fate. “I’m not just a “Shinigami”, my name is Kuchiki Rukia!”
Gripping her sword tightly, he positioned the tip right over his left breast. “And I am…”
She could feel the Hollow hurtling towards them, sounding its murderous intent with another malevolent howl. Casting her mind to Sode no Shirayuki’s spirit within her mind, Rukia urged the zanpakotou to hurry as she focussed on channelling her Reiryoku through the sword and into the Human. It was almost on top of them, its fangs were bared….3….2…1…
“…Kurosaki Ichigo!”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Now focus all your Magic into the key before you, that’s a good girl!”
Bero’s words rang in her head as Lucy screwed up her face, her cheeks almost blue with the effort of trying to direct all her Magic into the object, but the golden key remained silent and inanimate. Huffing loudly, the little girl collapsed on the ground. “How did Mama do it so easily?” she wondered aloud, twirling the key idly between her fingers.
Looking up into the azure sky, she sighed aloud. “It’s been so lonely since Mama died, now there’s no one to play with me.” Tears pricked Lucy’s eyes again, but she resolutely blinked them away. Deciding that she would try one last time before going in for tea, she closed her eyes and recited for the tenth time, “Gate of the Water Bearer, I open thee! Aquarius!”
Suddenly, a great typhoon swirled around her, followed by a dazzling silver light. The most beautiful woman she had ever seen emerged from the depths of the water, her waist-length aquamarine hair the same brilliant blue as the scales decorating her tail. An indigo bikini top preserved her modesty while she carried a golden urn in her hands.
“Wah, a mermaid!” Lucy squealed in excitement, clapping her hands up and down as she bobbed up and down in joy. “Now I have somebody to play with!”
The mermaid turned her cold, pupil less eyes to Lucy, a vein visibly throbbing in irritation at the youngster’s delighted reaction. “You’re not Layla.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
The acrid smell of ash and smoke burned her eyes and skin, as one of Kaguya’s All-Killing Ash Bones struck yet another Naruto shadow clone, which promptly disappeared. Growling in frustration, the Rabbit Goddess lashed out furiously at the two shinobi but her attacks continued to be nullified by a steady stream of clones.
Gripping her kunai tightly, Sakura watched as their sensei suddenly leaped in front of Kaguya, landing a clean strike on her right arm. “Raikiri!” Her anguished scream echoed menacingly across the hollow dimension as she clutched the charred, useless stump in agony. Baring her teeth, she prepared to send an Ash Bone attack at Kakashi before a vicious kick from the jonin sent her plummeting towards the ground.
“We’ve got her now!” Sakura thought excitedly, as the Goddess hurtled downwards in apparent helplessness. “Now, just a little more…”
“Naruto, behind you!”
It happened so fast that Sakura almost missed it. Apparently Black Zetsu, not content with being a mere bystander had taken it upon himself to use his mother’s severed limb to fire Ash-Bones at Naruto. Thank goodness Kakashi had used his Kamui in the nick of time.
In the millisecond of confusion that just ensued, Kaguya had suddenly regained her strength and reversed her descent, propelling herself upwards and away from Naruto and Sasuke’s reach.
A burst of anger shot through the kunoichi as she dived headfirst towards the escaping Rabbit Goddess. “No you don’t! Don't forget I’m up here too!” Summoning the remainder of her chakra, Sakura channelled all her rage and fury at Kaguya into what had to be a knock out punch. “SHANNARO!”
Watching from a distance, Kakashi felt his eyes grow slightly moist at the sight of their combination attack, the perfect precision of their timing and the innate anticipation of each other’s moves…
I think….I like you guys.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“There’s Mirajane Strauss in the centre spread again, she’s so beautiful!” Lucy sighed enviously, flicking through the colourful pages of this week’s edition of Sorcerer’s Magazine that Bero had sneakily bought for her. Turning to the main cover story, she read the headline, “ ‘Fairy Tail Almost Destroys Entire City’, eh?” Skimming through the article, Lucy giggled as the reporter humorously described how the Fairy Tail guild magicians had successfully eliminated a rogue team of bandits…at the cost of blowing a hole in the middle of the city square. “I wonder what it would be like to join the coolest guild in the world…” she sighed dreamily. “Mama…would you still be proud of me if I were a wizard of Fairy Tail and nearly blew up a city?!”
Carefully setting the magazine on top of her existing collection, the blonde teenager stretched her legs. “It must be wonderful to have the chance to go on the biggest jobs and adventures in the country, test your skills against the best wizards out there, have the freedom to live your own life and make your own choices…”
Looking up at the numerous Fairy Tail posters adorning her room, Lucy could have sworn she heard Layla’s voice whisper in her ear. Well then, what’s stopping you?
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Only the faint sounds of crickets chirping pierced the silence of the still night air, as she sank onto the soft cushion of grass in front of the grave marker. In the distance, the joyous shouts and cries of revelry could be heard as the three-day-three-night festival swung towards a raucous climax. Smiling faintly, Nami touched the head of the wooden cross. “It’s finally over, Bellemere-san.”
Pausing a while to listen the words she had just said, to savour that they were true with every fibre of her being, the flame-haired Navigator continued, “It took eight long years, but we’re finally free.” Images of the last triumphant battle against Arlong, the overwhelming joy when Arlong had finally collapsed from Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Ono rushed through her mind and she felt the prick of tears behind her eyes again. But this time, she wiped them away with a smile on her face. “It’s just like you said Bellemere-san, if you keep on living, then good times will eventually come again. And now, everyone in the village is smiling from the bottom of their hearts.”
A gentle breeze kissed her skin, warm and soothing to the touch and she reached out her hand to capture a few fluttering leaves. “I’ve decided to leave the island. I want to see the world, with my nakama! Draw a map of all the places I see. That’s my dream.” Sailing in search of new adventures, exploring every land and feeling the sun on her face – Nami knew that her soul belonged out there on the wide oceans of the world. She turned away. “But I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
As if in response to her doubts, the pinwheel planted beside the cross began to spin rapidly even in the absence of any breeze. Round and round it spun, agitatedly almost, as if it was trying to tell Nami to let go of any guilty thoughts or reservations she might have. Smiling as she realised what Bellemere was trying to say, she got up and gave the cross one last look. “Goodbye Bellemere-san,” she whispered, raising her eyes towards the starry skies before running back to the village.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“What’re you doing here?”
Her heart thumped furiously in double time against her chest at Kukaku’s eagle-eyed stare but she stood her ground. She hadn’t felt this scared even at the execution platform, even mere seconds away from a fiery death.
Ganju leaped up instantly, waving his hands in a hurried frenzy in front of his sister’s face. “Now hang on sis, this is…”
“Kuchiki Rukia. The Shinigami who killed our older brother.” The green-haired leader of the Shiba clan stared intimidatingly down at the shorter girl, her tone steely as she stated coldly, “That’s why I’m asking what she’s doing here.”
Feeling her throat start to constrict, Rukia did the first thing that sprang to her mind.
She bowed deeply. “I’m so sorry.” At their silence, she pressed on. “I kept thinking that I should come here to apologize, but because I’m a coward, I just kept running away. And that's why I was late in coming here. I’m sorry, I really am so…”
“That’s enough.”
Kukaku’s voice halted her mid-sentence, leaving Rukia dumbstruck for a second. The Shiba turned around, sighing. “That’s enough. Don’t need to go making a long apology.”
She recovered enough to protest. “Bu…!”
A crunching fist crashed down on her head. “Ow!”
Kukaku turned away, leaving her face to back Rukia so she couldn’t see her face. “I heard about the circumstances surrounding the incident from Ukitake, so I know that it’s not your fault. And I know you’re the one that’s regretting it the most. I decided long ago that if I were to even hear one word of apology from your lips, I would call it even. So….that’s enough.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again. “Thank yo…”
Another fierce punch to the head from the fierce Shiba leader sent her seeing stars.
Before she had time to nurse her woozy head, she heard a wonderfully familiar voice. “Oi, I knew you’d be here.”
Turning around, her leapt at the sight of the two figures standing before her. “Ichigo. Inoue.”
In typically brash fashion, the orange-haired Shinigami replied, “Time to go back. They said they’ll open the gate to the World of the Living tomorrow so since you’re not totally recovered yet, you better get a good night’s sleep in time for tomorrow.”
Almost as if in preparation for what she knew she had to say, a strong breeze tugged at her hair and kimono, reminding her of the choice that she had made. A sad, rueful smile tugged at her lips. “I thought you shoud be the first person to know this…” She took a deep breath.
“I’m thinking of staying here, in Soul Society.”
As soon as the words left her lips, a strange nervousness began to overtake her. How would Ichigo react? Would he start swearing at her for leaving him, or would he break down into tears and beg her to stay? As crazily impossible as that was, a part of her wanted him to tell her to go with him, that they were a team, that he needed her, that...
To her surprise, he did neither. Instead, his hazel eyes crinkled into an uncharacteristically gentle smile. “That so? I’m glad then.”
Rukia did a double take.
Scratching his ghastly orange thatch awkwardly, Ichigo laughed slightly. “Well if you decided that on your own, then it means that you’re comfortable enough to want to stay.” After a slight pause, he broke into a small grin. “It reminds me of why I wanted to save you so badly.”
Despite his uncouth and occasionally rough way with words, Ichigo had always had the uncanny ability to strike a chord with her. By saving Soul Society, Ichigo had not just saved her home but also her life. And with the Shiba clan’s forgiveness, he had gifted her the freedom to live again without guilt or shame. The rest was up to her now.
Looking up into the eyes of the man that she knew she would forever be bonded to by Fate, Rukia gifted Ichigo with her first true smile in ages.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Stepping into the village for the first time since the end of the War was a strange feeling. Not least because it was the first time the three of them had done so as a team, since 3 years ago. With Kakashi bringing up the rear just like old times, it was almost like stepping through a time vortex and coming out again at the moment she had been dreaming of for years.
The moment that had always seemed so impossible.
“Make way for the Great Heroes of the Fourth Shinobi World War!” Hearing the deafening cheers of the shinobi and villagers alike, Sakura straightened her shoulders and walked a little taller. And for the first time, she walked in the same line as Naruto and Sasuke. Not three paces behind, not behind Kakashi.
No longer as the weakling, the damsel, the burden.
But as their equals.
Because finally, she felt that she deserved her place in Team 7.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Lucy took a step back to survey her now sparse room, which had been emptied of its essential items, nearly tripping over her backpack as she did so. She didn’t want to be weighed down by any excess baggage, so she only packed the absolute minimum. The rest she could buy along the way on her travels. The inhabitants of the Heartfilia mansion were still lost within the depths of slumber, making it easier for her to leave unnoticed and unchallenged.
She caught sight of the leather-tome Spetto-san had given her all those years ago lying on her bookshelf, the one she had read to Lucy every night after Mama died. The collection of stories within that had inspired her to make her own journey towards making that first step in changing her own destiny.
The Celestial Spirit Mage flicked through her three favourite stories, her eyes stopping briefly at the ending line for each chapter.
And so, Nami sailed away with her merry crew of pirates, The Straw Hat Pirates for the greatest sea in the world, the Grand Line in search of new adventures and friends…
As she waved goodbye to her friends, Kuchiki Rukia felt a new determination and resolve settle over her. She would not let this new lease of life she had been given go to waste. She was the walker of her own path now, the master of her fate…
Having officially surpassed Tsunade as the Strongest Kunoichi and Best Medic in the village, Haruno Sakura went on to become the Head Medic of the Konoha Hospital and was instrumental in putting Konoha on the map for its leading-edge medical advancements…
While she was loathe to leave it behind; the book that had given her so much comfort and strength in the years following her Mama’s death, Lucy knew that she no longer needed it. She would carry the messages of inspiration, courage and fortitude forward in the new chapter of her life – the stories of the girls who had had the bravery to take their lives into their own hands and of the friends they had met along the way that had given them the strength to turn it around.
Going back to the front page, Lucy read the foreword one last time. It was nothing special – a definition straight out of a dictionary that was short, succinct and somehow encapsulated the spirit of what each story was trying to tell.
Orenda (n.) – A mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to change their own lives.
...END!
Glossary:
Bunshin no Jutsu – Clone Jutsu
Fuku-Taichou – Vice-Captain
Gomu Gomu no Ono – Gum Gum Battle Axe
Nakama – comrade
Nii-sama – Brother (formal)
Ojou-sama – Mistress / Milady
Otou-sama – Father (formal)
Reiryoku – Spirit Power
Shinigami – Death God
Taichou – Captain
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Rating: PG
Prompt: Orenda (n.) – A mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to change their own lives
Fandom/Series: Naruto, One Piece, Fairy Tail and Bleach crossover
Word Count: 6072
Disclaimer: I do not, in any way, profit from the story and all creative rights to the characters belong to their original creator(s) - Eichiiro Oda, Masashi Kishimoto, Tite Kubo and Hiro Mashima.
Summary:
Four worlds, four heroines, one heart. A tribute to the beloved ladies of the ‘Big 4’ shonen manga.
Behind the Clouds
The moon was already high in the sky when she opened her eyes, its pale, silvery fingers casting a soft glow on every object illuminated; seemingly ethereal to the touch if she cared to reach out her fingers. Little by little, she felt the dark cloud of fear and panic suffocating her dissolve into the fabric of normality: the flickering flames of the fireplaces sprang into view while her ears gently registered the familiar sounds of a cupboard creaking followed by the gentle hiss of the kettle on the boil, the soft ticking sound of the old grandfather clock rhythmically somewhere overhead. Taking a deep breath, she stood up and walked down the dark, silent hallway.
The old woman looked up as she entered, concern etched on her features at the sight of the shivering blonde child at the doorway. “Ojou-sama, you should not be out of bed! The Master will be upset if he finds you wandering around at such a late hour…”
“Please, Spetto-san.” She swallowed, clutching her nightdress tightly to her chest; the luxurious silk material doing little for her against the biting sting of the night winter air. Even her fingers and teeth had begun to chatter, but they were nothing compared to the chilling terror she felt constricting her chest just moments ago. “I...I had a nightmare again.”
The elderly housekeeper sighed, reaching out to wrap the young girl into a warm hug. Even this late at night, Spetto-san smelt comfortingly of fresh laundered linen and newly baked bread. Mama had been different – Layla always smelt of something flowery, exotic; depending on what kind of perfume she wore that day. Even towards the end, when her voice was so weak it was nothing more than a whisper and she could barely open her eyes when Lucy came into the room; she always smelt like the summer breeze in a flower field.
“Will you read me a story?” Lucy mumbled, her voice muffled against the fabric of Spetto-san’s green dress. “From your book on the fireplace?” She added hopefully.
Spetto fell silent for a moment, her expression pensive as she regarded the child before her. Lucy knew the housekeeper was warring with herself, so she stuck her top lip out in a trembling pout and widened her hazel eyes pleadingly. Predictably, within a few seconds the elderly woman heaved a defeated sigh and took the thick, leather-bound book down from the mantelpiece above the kitchen fireplace. “All right, but only a short one this time.”
A small burst of happiness shot through her chest and the young girl quickly settled herself on Spetto’s vast lap. “How about we read…”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
She could still see the blood on the grass - dark, ugly stains right on the spot where they once had her birthday picnic. The defiance in her mother’s eyes as the Fishman pulled the trigger, never flinching even as the bullet struck her clean in the middle of her forehead, spraying droplets of sickening red all over the clean blades of grass as she fell heavily to the ground. Bile rose in her gut as the sounds of her and Nojiko’s hysterical screams played over and over again in her mind, mingled with the cold, cruel laughter of the man, no devil sitting in front of her.
“So how about it, little girl?” The huge Fishman Captain grinned, razor sharp teeth glinting as he stretched his thin blue lips in a sadistic smile while the rest of the Fishmen burst into raucous cheers. “A place in my crew in exchange for that pathetic village of yours. I’d say you were getting the best of both worlds really, any pirate worth their salt in East Blue would give their right arm to be part of the Great Arlong Pirates!”
She clenched her fist, hate fuelling every throb of her veins as the cacophony of mocking cheers increased in volume. Arlong’s electric blue-eyes gazed down on her, glinting with a malicious amusement - daring her to refuse. She knew what they wanted, but she would be damned if she gave them the satisfaction of ever seeing her cry again.
“100,000,000 beli. Then you will free Cocoyashi Village. In return, I will be your cartographer and draw maps for you. You promise,” she said quietly, blinking back her tears as she raised her chin determinedly to stare right back at his vile, hateful face.
He laughed again, his savage delight at her helplessness a chilling echo of this morning’s nightmare. “Hatchi.” He gestured to a strange, octopus-like Fishman nervously shuffling in the background. “Brand our newest recruit, will you?”
She could have sworn the octopus whispered an apology to her, but moments later the searing heat of the brand burned her left shoulder, leaving her dizzy and gasping with pain. She closed her eyes tightly, long after she felt cool air washing over her shoulder, afraid of what she knew was there.
As long as you’re alive, there will be better things later. And there will be many.
“Welcome to the Arlong Pirates, Nami.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Winter turned to spring, and soon it was time for school to start again. Lucy felt the stares of her classmates burning into her back as she took her place at the front of the class. The Heartfilia family were big names in the Kingdom of Fiore, and news of her mothers’ death had even made the front page. She knew that the other girls were unsure of how to approach her, so she decided not to make things any more awkward for them. As the bell rang for recess, she hurried to a secluded corner of the school field and drew out the leather book from her school satchel – the one Mama had helped her choose for her first day of school. Feeling a measure of comfort as her fingers traced the worn, leather cover, she flipped a page and started reading.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“You were screaming again last night.”
The petite brunette looked up in surprise, but her brother’s expression was as inscrutable as ever. Placing his chopsticks down on the delicate porcelain rice bowl, part of the family china that had been passed down through generations of Kuchikis, the Sixth Division Captain fixed the younger girl with an icy stare. “It has already been one year since the incident, has it not?”
She lowered her gaze. “Yes, nii-sama. The anniversary of his death is tomorrow.”
“For how long more will you continue to wallow in guilt and depression?” he said coolly, earning a shocked silence from the female Shinigami sitting opposite him. “Fuku-Taichou Shiba himself would surely be concerned at the amount of time you have spent in your room mourning him…”
She stood up abruptly, pushing her half-full rice bowl away from her. Her chopsticks clattered to the side, forgotten. “Please excuse me, nii-sama. I have eaten my fill for tonight.”
Byakuya’s blank mask wavered a fraction in pure shock, but the younger Kuchiki had already fled the dining room.
Thank you, Taichou...for letting me fight…
Ukitake Taichou’s face was expressionless, but Rukia didn’t miss the way his jaw twitched slightly as he nodded impassively at his subordinate’s final farewell. Blood continued trickling down the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki interspersed with her tears, making soft dripping sounds as they ran down the brilliant steel of her zanpakotou’s blade in silent rivulets.
She felt his arm shudderingly grasp her back as his breathing became more laboured.
“Kaien-dono,” she whispered for the umpteenth time that night, grief overwhelming her even as was suddenly overcome with the desperate need to say his name over and over again, as if saying it enough times would be enough to keep him with her.
Kuchiki…I’m sorry for putting you in danger with my selfishness. Thanks to you….I can leave my heart here.
Stumbling blindly out of the door, it was only then that she realised that the tears running down her cheeks were real.
I haven’t done anything worthy of a single word of thanks…the only person that I saved was myself.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Happy birthday, ojou-sama!”
Lucy sat up in bed, blinking heavily as the bedroom door was flung open and a crowd of people swarmed in, talking and laughing excitedly. Someone flung open the thick, lacy curtains while another person, who she belatedly recognised as Aed the cook, suddenly shoved a chocolate cake under her nose. ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ was spelled out in hot pink icing, her favourite colour. “For ojou-sama, I hope you like it!”
“Thank you,” she smiled at the group of loyal servants while they beamed back at the birthday girl in delight.
“May you grow prettier and wiser with each passing year,” trilled Ribbon happily, before passing her a stack of brightly wrapped parcels. “Now, I’m sure you’ll like these, the latest compilation of fairy tales from the Sout…”
“Is there one from Papa?” The blonde girl cut in eagerly, licking a bit of chocolate off her fingers. As with all of Aed’s cooking, the cake was absolutely delicious.
The servants unexpectedly fell silent. “Well, Master is very busy at the moment,” Aed said hesitantly, exchanging a nervous glance with Spetto and Ribbon. “But I’m sure he has something for you lat…”
Oblivious to the cook’s evident discomfort, Lucy piped up, “Since otou-sama is busy, then maybe I should make him something to cheer him up!”
“Ojou-sama, I’m not sure if that’s such a good id…”
But Lucy had already hopped out of bed and changed into her favourite pink dress. Running towards the kitchens, she called out, “Come on Aed! I want to make onigiri - I’m sure otou-sama will love it!”
Not wanting to disappoint the little girl on her birthday, the chef forced a smile on his face. “Please wait for me, ojou-sama!” Inside, he desperately hoped that the Master would be in a good mood.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Get up.”
The young kunoichi panted heavily, desperately clutching her sides as she struggled to her feet before falling heavily again. Mud splattered her face as she crashed to the ground, stinging her eyes and nose with its wet, slimy texture. Her limbs were burning, aching with the slicing of a thousand knives and she heard a slight crack from what was likely a twisted right ankle. Bloody gently oozed from a scrape on her left knee and she was sure by tomorrow she would have a colourful array of bruises decorating her stomach and thighs.
“That was the most pathetic performance I’ve seen from a genin in my entire career as a ninja.” Tsunade spoke softly, but her words stung more than if she had lashed out into one of her full-on, voluble tirades. And she knew it was a measure of the Hokage’s utter disappointment, maybe even shock at the incompetence of her combat abilities that prompted this unnerving, understated reaction.
“Either Kakashi has been neglecting your training, or the passing standards to be a Konoha genin have truly fallen into a deplorable state.” The blonde woman shrugged off her green kimono jacket, an ominous sign that signalled she meant business. “Get up, we will begin again.”
“I…can’t.”
The Hokage paused. “Did you say something, Sakura?” Her voice was still soft, but with a hint of dangerous intent undertone.
She swallowed heavily. “I…I’m sorry Hokage-sama. But I cannot continue.”
Silence reigned for several excruciating seconds before the older woman spoke again. “Fine. You are dismissed.”
Sakura breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Hokage-sama. So I will see you tomorrow at…”
“No, you are dismissed. You are no longer my apprentice.”
Shock reverberated through her entire system as her jaw went slack. She scrambled desperately, “No Hokage-sama, that’s not what I me…”
Tsunade cut her off. “Ninja who have no will to suffer or sacrifice themselves for their comrades are not ninja.” She narrowed her amber eyes at the shrinking genin. “Tell me, Sakura – what do you think Naruto or Sasuke will have to do when you are tied up and captured by the enemy because you were too weak to defend yourself?”
Shame burned her cheeks as she felt the familiar wave of despair, helplessness start to engulf her.
Sakura, you’re…annoying.
She clenched her fist, even as it ached from the sudden movement. Recklessly throwing the last shuriken from her holster, she forced her hands to form the clone seal. “Bunshin no Jutsu!”
Predictably, the Hokage stopped both shuriken dead in their tracks, her clone shuriken promptly disappearing in a puff of smoke. A last feeble, futile show of resistance. Sakura dropped her head to the ground, letting the first droplets of rain splash across her face as tears threatened to leak out of her eyes.
She had failed them – again.
Failed before she had even started.
With every step she fell behind, Naruto and Sasuke were getting further and further away, the chasm between them growing wider and wider as her dream became an ever distant impossibility.
“So there’s still some fight left in you, ne?” A shadow loomed over her as the Hokage crouched down beside the forlorn pinkette. The next thing she knew, she felt green healing chakra lightly wash through her system, soothing her aching muscles.
“Male shinobi will always look down on kunoichi as being inferior,” Tsunade said softly, standing up and wiping her hands on her trousers. “Don’t give them another reason to think that they’re right. If you truly care about becoming stronger and protecting your teammates, then show me that you truly have what it takes to be a shinobi of Konoha.”
“Show me, that you have the Will of Fire.”
Stumbling to her feet, Sakura noted that while her balance remained wobbly, the throbbing ache in her right ankle was gone. Filled with a renewed sense of resolve, she drew her kunai. “I’m ready.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
She could still see the fallen rice cake lying in a crushed heap at the side of the study, the grains spilling awkwardly over the plush red carpet. The seaweed strips that she had cut so carefully to be the eyes and mouth lay set in a wide grin, just like when she had freshly arranged them this morning – as if it was mocking her for her foolish efforts.
“I’m sorry for disturbing you this morning, otou-sama.”
Jude Heartfilia merely let out an impatient grunt, his eyes still fixed on the mess of papers strewn about his desk. His brow was creased in concentration, and he continually muttered to himself and made little ticks on another piece of paper.
Pushing away the familiar pang of loneliness, the young Heartfilia heir turned to exit. “Good night, otou-sama,” she whispered.
“Goodnight, Lucy.” His voice was curt, but not as harsh as it had been earlier in the day.
As she closed the huge study doors, Bero suddenly beckoned to her from one of the drawing rooms. Placing a finger on his lips, the little wizened magician placed a small, wooden box in her arms. “Happy birthday, ojou-sama. This was a gift from your mother before she died – I was under strict instructions to pass this to you on your eleventh birthday.”
Lucy felt tears spring to her eyes again. “Mama…remembered my birthday?”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“ARLONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Even the heavens rang with her frenzied screams and deep inside, Nami felt something within her snap.
She felt numb.
Cold.
Panic rose inside her at her current state of unfeeling. Pain, anger, anguish – anything was better than this vacuum of empty helplessness; devoid of any emotion.
Grabbing the dagger hidden beneath her shorts, the orange-haired girl stabbed the blade deep into her left shoulder where she knew that vile and despicable tattoo marked her skin. A symbol of her slavery to her mother’s killer.
As the tip pierced her skin, Nami felt a macabre relief as a throbbing ache burst into her consciousness, sending her senses into overdrive as she drove the knife over and over again into the same spot.
“ARLONG! ARLONG! ARLONG!!!!!!!!!!!”
A skinny hand caught her arm as she was swinging the blade down again, knocking it safely out of her grip.
“What are you doing?!” she spat, slowly curling her fists as fury started to build at that infuriating straw-hatted boy’s insolence. “You don’t know anything about what’s been happening on this island for the last 8 years!”
“Ah, I don’t.”
His laconic reply only served to fuel her anger, and Nami felt her pent-up emotions start to build to an overwhelming crescendo of rage. “This is none of your business. I told you to leave the island didn’t I? So leave already!” She flung a fistful of sand backwards at Luffy, not caring if it actually hit him.
“Go away!” she screamed over and over again. Nami tried to direct all the pain she was feeling towards Luffy, his insistence at staying on her island, his persistent interference in her personal affairs…
Her hand suddenly dropped as her fury melted away. A sob wracked her body, and before she knew what was happening, tears were rolling furiously down her cheeks. As she finally gave in to the dam of despair and fear swallowing her from within, the broken young woman found herself turning to the silent figure standing behind her. “Luffy…help me.”
The rubber captain remained silent for a good few seconds, and for a split-second she wondered if he was going to abandon her, spit in her face and declare that helping her was the last thing he would do after the way she had betrayed him, stolen his ship, lied to him…
Instead, she felt something being placed on her head. Even through her tears, she realised that Luffy had given her his hat.
That precious straw-hat he treasured above all.
Taking a few steps back, he suddenly beat his chest and let out an enormous yell, “YOU BET I WILL!”
And for the first time in 8 long years, Nami felt hope.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
The ornate wooden box was surprisingly lighter than it looked. Setting it down on her bed, Lucy gently opened the cover; unsuccessfully stifling a sneeze as a plume of dust rose, clouding her vision momentarily.
It was only after her sneezing fit subsided that she noticed the slender, golden key nestled in the rich wine-coloured fabric lining the heart of the box. With trembling hands, she slowly ran her fingers over the smooth, shiny surface and intricate patterns and symbols carved on it.
Aquarius.
A distant memory of a water goddess, the smell of flowers, a fountain of blue…
The blonde girl reverently tucked the key in the pocket of her skirt. “I think it’s time I took my Celestial Spirit Training seriously. Thank you…”
She smiled determinedly.
“…Mama.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Pain shot through her entire body as its fangs sank into the soft flesh of neck. She felt the warm rush of blood spurt from the wound, before the Hollow ripped its fangs out violently.
Rukia collapsed to the ground.
“Shinigami!” The faint cry of the Human echoed behind her, as Rukia felt her vision start to go black from the sudden loss of blood. It was a serious wound, and the Shinigami knew that she wouldn’t be able to continue her fight after such a grievous injury. Luckily, it seemed she had managed to land a hit on the Hollow, as it temporarily paused its assault on them as it to bellow in pain. However, the wound wasn’t fatal and she knew that it would likely recover in a minute or two.
Coughing up blood, she cursed violently. “You fool! Did you think everything would end smoothly if you just gave the Hollow your Soul?!” Crawling to the side of the pavement, Rukia reached for her zanpakotou. Quelling her rising panic as she went through the options in her mental checklist, the Shinigami suddenly realised that there was only one possible thing that could be done if they were to have any hope of surviving this. She turned to the orange-haired kid, who was still staring at the Hollow in a state of catatonic shock and horror. “Do you want… to save your family?”
“Of course I do!” He yelled hysterically. “Is there a way?!”
Slowly, she gripped Sode no Shirayuki and pointed it at him. “Then… you have to become a Shinigami.”
Predictably, his eyes bulged in shock, maybe fear, maybe both at her audacious pronouncement but there was no time to waste. The Hollow’s cries were getting louder and the stench of its rotten reiatsu was getting stronger again. “Thrust this zanpakotou into your heart and I will pour my powers into you! I don’t know if this will work – but it’s the only way!”
The boy remained silent but when his hazel eyes met hers, she noticed with a jolt that there was absolutely no trace of fear in them. “Give me the sword, Shinigami.”
Even in such a time of panic, Rukia felt a strange magnetic power drawing her towards the stranger. She felt a mysterious sense of reassurance that this boy could be trusted. A sense that he had the power to save them all.
But beyond all that, she had a nagging feeling that they were on the brink of something momentous – that this boy had the power to turn their lives upside down. Uttering a quick prayer, Rukia decided to trust her instincts and give herself up to Fate. “I’m not just a “Shinigami”, my name is Kuchiki Rukia!”
Gripping her sword tightly, he positioned the tip right over his left breast. “And I am…”
She could feel the Hollow hurtling towards them, sounding its murderous intent with another malevolent howl. Casting her mind to Sode no Shirayuki’s spirit within her mind, Rukia urged the zanpakotou to hurry as she focussed on channelling her Reiryoku through the sword and into the Human. It was almost on top of them, its fangs were bared….3….2…1…
“…Kurosaki Ichigo!”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“Now focus all your Magic into the key before you, that’s a good girl!”
Bero’s words rang in her head as Lucy screwed up her face, her cheeks almost blue with the effort of trying to direct all her Magic into the object, but the golden key remained silent and inanimate. Huffing loudly, the little girl collapsed on the ground. “How did Mama do it so easily?” she wondered aloud, twirling the key idly between her fingers.
Looking up into the azure sky, she sighed aloud. “It’s been so lonely since Mama died, now there’s no one to play with me.” Tears pricked Lucy’s eyes again, but she resolutely blinked them away. Deciding that she would try one last time before going in for tea, she closed her eyes and recited for the tenth time, “Gate of the Water Bearer, I open thee! Aquarius!”
Suddenly, a great typhoon swirled around her, followed by a dazzling silver light. The most beautiful woman she had ever seen emerged from the depths of the water, her waist-length aquamarine hair the same brilliant blue as the scales decorating her tail. An indigo bikini top preserved her modesty while she carried a golden urn in her hands.
“Wah, a mermaid!” Lucy squealed in excitement, clapping her hands up and down as she bobbed up and down in joy. “Now I have somebody to play with!”
The mermaid turned her cold, pupil less eyes to Lucy, a vein visibly throbbing in irritation at the youngster’s delighted reaction. “You’re not Layla.”
…………………………………………………………………………………….
The acrid smell of ash and smoke burned her eyes and skin, as one of Kaguya’s All-Killing Ash Bones struck yet another Naruto shadow clone, which promptly disappeared. Growling in frustration, the Rabbit Goddess lashed out furiously at the two shinobi but her attacks continued to be nullified by a steady stream of clones.
Gripping her kunai tightly, Sakura watched as their sensei suddenly leaped in front of Kaguya, landing a clean strike on her right arm. “Raikiri!” Her anguished scream echoed menacingly across the hollow dimension as she clutched the charred, useless stump in agony. Baring her teeth, she prepared to send an Ash Bone attack at Kakashi before a vicious kick from the jonin sent her plummeting towards the ground.
“We’ve got her now!” Sakura thought excitedly, as the Goddess hurtled downwards in apparent helplessness. “Now, just a little more…”
“Naruto, behind you!”
It happened so fast that Sakura almost missed it. Apparently Black Zetsu, not content with being a mere bystander had taken it upon himself to use his mother’s severed limb to fire Ash-Bones at Naruto. Thank goodness Kakashi had used his Kamui in the nick of time.
In the millisecond of confusion that just ensued, Kaguya had suddenly regained her strength and reversed her descent, propelling herself upwards and away from Naruto and Sasuke’s reach.
A burst of anger shot through the kunoichi as she dived headfirst towards the escaping Rabbit Goddess. “No you don’t! Don't forget I’m up here too!” Summoning the remainder of her chakra, Sakura channelled all her rage and fury at Kaguya into what had to be a knock out punch. “SHANNARO!”
Watching from a distance, Kakashi felt his eyes grow slightly moist at the sight of their combination attack, the perfect precision of their timing and the innate anticipation of each other’s moves…
I think….I like you guys.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“There’s Mirajane Strauss in the centre spread again, she’s so beautiful!” Lucy sighed enviously, flicking through the colourful pages of this week’s edition of Sorcerer’s Magazine that Bero had sneakily bought for her. Turning to the main cover story, she read the headline, “ ‘Fairy Tail Almost Destroys Entire City’, eh?” Skimming through the article, Lucy giggled as the reporter humorously described how the Fairy Tail guild magicians had successfully eliminated a rogue team of bandits…at the cost of blowing a hole in the middle of the city square. “I wonder what it would be like to join the coolest guild in the world…” she sighed dreamily. “Mama…would you still be proud of me if I were a wizard of Fairy Tail and nearly blew up a city?!”
Carefully setting the magazine on top of her existing collection, the blonde teenager stretched her legs. “It must be wonderful to have the chance to go on the biggest jobs and adventures in the country, test your skills against the best wizards out there, have the freedom to live your own life and make your own choices…”
Looking up at the numerous Fairy Tail posters adorning her room, Lucy could have sworn she heard Layla’s voice whisper in her ear. Well then, what’s stopping you?
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Only the faint sounds of crickets chirping pierced the silence of the still night air, as she sank onto the soft cushion of grass in front of the grave marker. In the distance, the joyous shouts and cries of revelry could be heard as the three-day-three-night festival swung towards a raucous climax. Smiling faintly, Nami touched the head of the wooden cross. “It’s finally over, Bellemere-san.”
Pausing a while to listen the words she had just said, to savour that they were true with every fibre of her being, the flame-haired Navigator continued, “It took eight long years, but we’re finally free.” Images of the last triumphant battle against Arlong, the overwhelming joy when Arlong had finally collapsed from Luffy’s Gomu Gomu no Ono rushed through her mind and she felt the prick of tears behind her eyes again. But this time, she wiped them away with a smile on her face. “It’s just like you said Bellemere-san, if you keep on living, then good times will eventually come again. And now, everyone in the village is smiling from the bottom of their hearts.”
A gentle breeze kissed her skin, warm and soothing to the touch and she reached out her hand to capture a few fluttering leaves. “I’ve decided to leave the island. I want to see the world, with my nakama! Draw a map of all the places I see. That’s my dream.” Sailing in search of new adventures, exploring every land and feeling the sun on her face – Nami knew that her soul belonged out there on the wide oceans of the world. She turned away. “But I don’t know when I’ll be back.”
As if in response to her doubts, the pinwheel planted beside the cross began to spin rapidly even in the absence of any breeze. Round and round it spun, agitatedly almost, as if it was trying to tell Nami to let go of any guilty thoughts or reservations she might have. Smiling as she realised what Bellemere was trying to say, she got up and gave the cross one last look. “Goodbye Bellemere-san,” she whispered, raising her eyes towards the starry skies before running back to the village.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
“What’re you doing here?”
Her heart thumped furiously in double time against her chest at Kukaku’s eagle-eyed stare but she stood her ground. She hadn’t felt this scared even at the execution platform, even mere seconds away from a fiery death.
Ganju leaped up instantly, waving his hands in a hurried frenzy in front of his sister’s face. “Now hang on sis, this is…”
“Kuchiki Rukia. The Shinigami who killed our older brother.” The green-haired leader of the Shiba clan stared intimidatingly down at the shorter girl, her tone steely as she stated coldly, “That’s why I’m asking what she’s doing here.”
Feeling her throat start to constrict, Rukia did the first thing that sprang to her mind.
She bowed deeply. “I’m so sorry.” At their silence, she pressed on. “I kept thinking that I should come here to apologize, but because I’m a coward, I just kept running away. And that's why I was late in coming here. I’m sorry, I really am so…”
“That’s enough.”
Kukaku’s voice halted her mid-sentence, leaving Rukia dumbstruck for a second. The Shiba turned around, sighing. “That’s enough. Don’t need to go making a long apology.”
She recovered enough to protest. “Bu…!”
A crunching fist crashed down on her head. “Ow!”
Kukaku turned away, leaving her face to back Rukia so she couldn’t see her face. “I heard about the circumstances surrounding the incident from Ukitake, so I know that it’s not your fault. And I know you’re the one that’s regretting it the most. I decided long ago that if I were to even hear one word of apology from your lips, I would call it even. So….that’s enough.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again. “Thank yo…”
Another fierce punch to the head from the fierce Shiba leader sent her seeing stars.
Before she had time to nurse her woozy head, she heard a wonderfully familiar voice. “Oi, I knew you’d be here.”
Turning around, her leapt at the sight of the two figures standing before her. “Ichigo. Inoue.”
In typically brash fashion, the orange-haired Shinigami replied, “Time to go back. They said they’ll open the gate to the World of the Living tomorrow so since you’re not totally recovered yet, you better get a good night’s sleep in time for tomorrow.”
Almost as if in preparation for what she knew she had to say, a strong breeze tugged at her hair and kimono, reminding her of the choice that she had made. A sad, rueful smile tugged at her lips. “I thought you shoud be the first person to know this…” She took a deep breath.
“I’m thinking of staying here, in Soul Society.”
As soon as the words left her lips, a strange nervousness began to overtake her. How would Ichigo react? Would he start swearing at her for leaving him, or would he break down into tears and beg her to stay? As crazily impossible as that was, a part of her wanted him to tell her to go with him, that they were a team, that he needed her, that...
To her surprise, he did neither. Instead, his hazel eyes crinkled into an uncharacteristically gentle smile. “That so? I’m glad then.”
Rukia did a double take.
Scratching his ghastly orange thatch awkwardly, Ichigo laughed slightly. “Well if you decided that on your own, then it means that you’re comfortable enough to want to stay.” After a slight pause, he broke into a small grin. “It reminds me of why I wanted to save you so badly.”
Despite his uncouth and occasionally rough way with words, Ichigo had always had the uncanny ability to strike a chord with her. By saving Soul Society, Ichigo had not just saved her home but also her life. And with the Shiba clan’s forgiveness, he had gifted her the freedom to live again without guilt or shame. The rest was up to her now.
Looking up into the eyes of the man that she knew she would forever be bonded to by Fate, Rukia gifted Ichigo with her first true smile in ages.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Stepping into the village for the first time since the end of the War was a strange feeling. Not least because it was the first time the three of them had done so as a team, since 3 years ago. With Kakashi bringing up the rear just like old times, it was almost like stepping through a time vortex and coming out again at the moment she had been dreaming of for years.
The moment that had always seemed so impossible.
“Make way for the Great Heroes of the Fourth Shinobi World War!” Hearing the deafening cheers of the shinobi and villagers alike, Sakura straightened her shoulders and walked a little taller. And for the first time, she walked in the same line as Naruto and Sasuke. Not three paces behind, not behind Kakashi.
No longer as the weakling, the damsel, the burden.
But as their equals.
Because finally, she felt that she deserved her place in Team 7.
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Lucy took a step back to survey her now sparse room, which had been emptied of its essential items, nearly tripping over her backpack as she did so. She didn’t want to be weighed down by any excess baggage, so she only packed the absolute minimum. The rest she could buy along the way on her travels. The inhabitants of the Heartfilia mansion were still lost within the depths of slumber, making it easier for her to leave unnoticed and unchallenged.
She caught sight of the leather-tome Spetto-san had given her all those years ago lying on her bookshelf, the one she had read to Lucy every night after Mama died. The collection of stories within that had inspired her to make her own journey towards making that first step in changing her own destiny.
The Celestial Spirit Mage flicked through her three favourite stories, her eyes stopping briefly at the ending line for each chapter.
And so, Nami sailed away with her merry crew of pirates, The Straw Hat Pirates for the greatest sea in the world, the Grand Line in search of new adventures and friends…
As she waved goodbye to her friends, Kuchiki Rukia felt a new determination and resolve settle over her. She would not let this new lease of life she had been given go to waste. She was the walker of her own path now, the master of her fate…
Having officially surpassed Tsunade as the Strongest Kunoichi and Best Medic in the village, Haruno Sakura went on to become the Head Medic of the Konoha Hospital and was instrumental in putting Konoha on the map for its leading-edge medical advancements…
While she was loathe to leave it behind; the book that had given her so much comfort and strength in the years following her Mama’s death, Lucy knew that she no longer needed it. She would carry the messages of inspiration, courage and fortitude forward in the new chapter of her life – the stories of the girls who had had the bravery to take their lives into their own hands and of the friends they had met along the way that had given them the strength to turn it around.
Going back to the front page, Lucy read the foreword one last time. It was nothing special – a definition straight out of a dictionary that was short, succinct and somehow encapsulated the spirit of what each story was trying to tell.
Orenda (n.) – A mystical force present in all people that empowers them to affect the world, or to change their own lives.
...END!
Glossary:
Bunshin no Jutsu – Clone Jutsu
Fuku-Taichou – Vice-Captain
Gomu Gomu no Ono – Gum Gum Battle Axe
Nakama – comrade
Nii-sama – Brother (formal)
Ojou-sama – Mistress / Milady
Otou-sama – Father (formal)
Reiryoku – Spirit Power
Shinigami – Death God
Taichou – Captain
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