Yes, I know it seemed like I have abandoned this story, but I haven't... as you can see! XD I'm also sorry for a very short chapter, but I promise the next one to be a bit more interesting that this one! Enjoy!
Warnings: Language, slap stick violence, crack humor!
Chapter 2: Hollow
It was already dark by the time Kaien walked into the station with Ichigo after he received the call from Ukitake that morning. Once he hung up the phone, it was as if he went mute. He didn't utter a single word during the whole plane ride back to Tokyo from Rangokai.
Walking into the Homicide Division, everyone immediately stopped what they were doing and watched as he and Ichigo walked by towards the captain's office. They probably already heard about his wife's death and are probably getting ready to get front row seats to eavesdrop on his conversation with Ukitake. Right before he entered though, he stopped abruptly and turned around to glare daggers at the workers and in an instant everything (everyone) returned back to normal. Kaien shook his head in utter disbelief at his fellow co-workers but paused before turning the knob. "Oi, Kurosaki?"
Ichigo looked up at the officer and responded, "Yes, sir?"
"Could you... could you wait out here for a second?" Kaien requested looking down at his hands.
Ichigo completely understood and then nodded as he took a seat right next to the door.
Closing his eyes, Kaien drew an even breath and then once he had calmed his nerves, he turned the door knob and walked into the room.
Two pairs of concerned eyes shot up at the vice captain, as he roughly swallowed and then moved stiffly into the room. Rukia's eyes were puffy from what looked like hours of crying and Ukitake looked as though he aged a hundred years in the span of twenty-four hours.
Rukia immediately ran into Kaien's arms as a dam of fresh tears streamed from her eyes. Burying her nose into his torso, she muffled, "Kaien-dono... are you okay? Miyako... why did it have to be... you?"
Kaien stared straight ahead, feeling more numb than he have felt in a long time. Looking into Ukitake's eyes, it was as if they could communicate without uttering a single word.
Ukitake then took that opportunity to stiffly gather his thoughts as he pushed himself out of his chair. Walking over towards his officer, Ukitake placed a heavy hand on Kaien's shoulder and whispered, "If we get there fast enough, maybe we can take a look at the body before the damn Tokyo punks take her away."
Kaien gave Ukitake a slightly shocked look, but it soon transformed into a look of determination.
"Let me go with you, Kaien-dono! Let me go too please... I would like to see... Miyako-dono one last time as well. You promised any way." Rukia said as she tugged at his silk dress suit.
Kaien hesitated for a mere second and then looking into her eyes, he knew he could never say no to her. "Sure, kid. You can come too."
The airport was bustling with travelers even as late as now. Renji Abarai adjusted his white suit one last time before scanning the crowd for Urahara, who said that he was coming from Rangokai.
Damn that man just love to make an entrance. Glancing at his watch and seeing that it's already 8:46 in the evening, Renji needed some caffeine to keep him up so not to conk out while getting the report from the elder man. Pushing his way through what felt like a herd of rhinos, Renji finally made it towards the café in the western corner of the airport. Yet once he got inside, he noticed the unmistakably long line that extended from one side of the café and curved around the group of small tables and ended right in front of the door.
Shaking his head he muttered, "I hate Tokyo." and then got in line behind a short boy with black spiky hair. At that moment though, his cell phone rang loudly. Pulling it out, he glanced at the number that displayed and then shook his head as he flipped the phone on, "Urahara! Where the hell are you? I've waited for almost two fuckin' hours!"
"Abarai-san! I'm terribly sorry! It seems as though I lost track of time and I am in desperate need to go to my shop one last time before I come over and pick you up. I will be there in about an hour. Could you find it in your heart to forgive this ingenious mentor of yours?"
"Alright! I get it! Yea, take your time, I guess. I've waited for almost three hours now, what's another one, ne?" Renji said sarcastically as he raised an eyebrow at the person in front of him. Why was he constantly shaking his legs and jumping up and down.
Being the complete block head that he was, Renji took it upon himself to ask her why.
Tapping her on the shoulder, Renji asked, "Eh, kid? Are you okay?"
At first contact, Renji felt the electricity through his fingers all the way to his size thirteen shoes. Renji's eyes widened at the first contact with the little boy and then as he turned around, his eyes grew to saucers.
This 'he' was not a he after all, but a SHE!
The long flight from Rangokai was the last thing Tatsuki needed after a huge interview with the board of education's representative of West Point. Of course with her stellar resume, she was immediately accepted on the spot. Right after that she had to get on the first plane to Tokyo where she then had transfer flights to get to Los Angeles then a final transfer from there to New York. She knew that with the conveyer-belt of flights to come, she needed to get at least three cans of any kind of energy drink for when she woke up. So as she tried waiting inline for her turn for the past twenty minutes, her poor legs fell asleep after stand for so long. So after trying to shake them out, she suddenly felt an electric shock course from her shoulder all the way to her frozen toes. Spinning around to face the owner of the finger that tapped her, she came face to face with the most unruly auburn hair she had ever laid eyes upon (and a pair of deep coffee-colored eyes to boot too!) He was definitely a sight for sore eyes.
But this of course was Tatsuki and she was a woman who paid attention to detail... and she just registered that he just called her a 'kid'!
"What the hell did you call me?" Tatsuki flared at him glaring up at the insanely tall red head.
"I mean... that is... I was wanting to ask you... i-if you... uhm..." Renji nearly wanted to slap his forehead at his own idiocy. A small tiny blush crept up his neck to settle comfortably on his cheeks as he tried to splutter out what he had been trying to say for the last thirty seconds.
Tatsuki stared to blush as well at his childish behaviors. But this wasn't at all like the tomboy to act and just brushed it off as if she had not noticed anything.
"Oi! Would you just friggin' spit out whatever you're about to say! Honestly, some people have all the money in the world to dress themselves up all spiffy but they can't even speak properly."
The fire in her words fueled Renji to snap out of his stupor. "Oi! The fuck is your problem shorty? You think you could-"
The rest of his sentence was cut off as his own circulation was cut off from around his neck. Tatsuki caught him easily in a head lock as he tried to pry her hands free to allow some air into his lungs.
"Don't think that you can get off so easily for calling me that! I'm not short, damnit!"
"Ohoho, Abarai-san! Making friends in Tokyo already I see." A voice from behind them seemed to break the fight between the two. So it wasn't an hour after all, more like 10 minutes. The older man will never make any sense in Renji's eyes. Tatsuki quickly let go of the tall redhead as Renji nearly stumbled back. Huffing under her breath she sent a death glare towards Renji before leaving the café.
Urahara stepped out from behind one of the marble tables and then tried to follow Renji's gaze from over his shoulder. He chuckled before turning back to the young man and stating, "If you want to run after her so badly to proclaim your undeniable love, you should depart now-" Renji easily silenced the rest of the sentence with a swift punch in the face.
As he walked to the counter, Renji tried to push the bizarre emptiness in his chest as he watched his attacker walk away. It wasn't as if he would ever see her again anyway, why the hell should he give a damn. Shaking his head to clear his mind a bit, he looked up and found that he had more trouble ahead of him. The young girl behind the cash register glared at him, for making one of her potential customers walk off in a huff, and then asked gruffly, "What can I get for you?"
Renji rolled his eyes and then said, "Just give me the strongest espresso you have in this place."
Seeing as she punched the order onto the computer rougher than necessary, Renji sighed and then said, "And then give me another large coffee for this bum behind me. There, are you happy yet?"
She looked at him innocent as an angel and then turned her nose up as if she wasn't satisfied yet.
Growling under his breath noticeably now, Renji took out a twenty from his pocket and then said, "Keep the change!"
With this, the young café worker smiled greatly and then proclaimed, "Thanks so much for coming to Star Grinder today. Have a wonderful day and enjoy your coffee!"
Shaking his head, Renji walked over towards the other side of the counter to wait for his order. "So, what's the job?"
Urahara was fiddling with a small package of what looked his cocaine but even someone like Renji knew that Urahara wouldn't be flashing something like that in public especially with a security guard standing four feet away. Renji knew that Urahara once was part of some research group for the Japanese Intelligence Agency and got booted because of some freak accident. Urahara was considered elite, he didn't have to have a sign around his neck or his face all over the paper to prove it; it's just what people felt when they were around him.
Urahara turned to his companion and was silent for the longest time. His face looked as if he was battling an internal struggle as to whether he should speak of such a topic in a public setting.
Finally as Renji was about to explode from all the anticipation, Urahara opened his mouth to answer when...
"One triple shot of espresso and a Mucho Grande latte."
Leaning forward, Urahara grabbed his coffee and said one thing, "I'll be waiting at the tower."
Renji nearly pulled out his own hair at the older man's insensitivity! "ARGH!" He hadn't noticed he had growled out loud until a little boy started crying. Muttering his apologizes, he decided to figure out what the cryptic message meant after he got some caffeine into his system. But after turning to get his coffee, he felt something fall to the floor from inside his white dress coat. Looking down, he saw the slip of paper folded into fourths and addressed to him.
Bending over he picked up the slip of paper and read the context before slipping it, securely this time, back into his coat pocket. He understood what he needed to do now; it was time to start his new job on the outskirts of Tokyo for a new company called Kuchiki Enterprises... as a bodyguard.
In the darkness, he waited. Lurking about and concealing his very existence until it was finally time to escape. He wasn't hard to spot though; he had lived in the murky abyss for longer than he could remember which made him very pale and sickly looking.
Not to mention his eyes were of molten gold. Like the eyes of a demon.
All done. See? Told ya it was short. T-T Thanks for reading.
Preview: What is with the company that Renji will have to work at? What will happen to Rukia and Kaien at the death scene of Miyako? Who is this mysterious person who happened to be in all the right places?
Next time on City Lights: Tokyo Suicide... Some pieces furniture are more evident than others.
And since you've made it this far, please leave me a review! Sank qu!