By noon, the rain was pouring down. The weather was really angry. Well, never mind. The main thing was that I had finished my orders for today. Now I would finish packing, grab my umbrella, and go to my friend's house. I promised to bring him something to read, so I had to keep my promise.
Okay, I should bring the guys something good again. Otherwise, they'll get bored there. And even better — I should start teaching the twins so that they can be useful to everyone. Yes! I'll teach them how to set traps and snares. Of course, not as far away as we do — I've decided not to go there anymore — but overall it will be useful.
"Karasumaru-kun!" Momoto-san called out to me. "Isane-san is calling you!"
"Huh?! I'm coming!"
My shinigami acquaintance was sitting in our kitchen. She looked slightly pale, tired, and sleep-deprived.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine," she smiled. "I just didn't get enough sleep today. I fell twice, hit the doorframe, and crashed into the wall," she said with the same smile. Well, it seemed she wasn't a person suffering from her height, but someone learning to walk on stilts — she crashed into everything. "I have good news. Unohana-taichō said she would examine Hotaru-kun."
"Really?!" I rejoiced.
"Yes. She said to bring you two to her."
"Two?" I didn't understand.
"She said you might be susceptible to the same thing and asked me to bring you too."
"All right," I shrugged. It seemed she wanted to see me for some reason. "I'll bring him."
"I'll go with you," she said, struggling to get up.
"No, no, no, no," I waved my hands. "You can barely stand. So sit down. Rest. I'll take care of it. Right, Momoto-san?"
"Exactly," the woman nodded. "You need to rest, Isane-san. Karasumaru-chan will take care of it."
"But…" she tried to object timidly.
"Yeah, I'll be back soon." I put down the bag I no longer needed, threw on my raincoat, and left.
My mood was high. I ran across the rooftops, forgetting about the umbrella in my hands, my hood, and my shoes. As usual. I wasn't running — I was flying forward. Less than a day later, there was a glimmer of hope. I had to get to Hotaru as soon as possible and bring him to us.
I got out of the district by simply jumping over the wall — fortunately, the nearby house allowed me to do so.
I ran into the forest. I was in a good mood, and even the rain couldn't dampen it.
As I approached the village, I heard something.
Voices.
Someone was laughing.
"A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A!!!" A scream pierced my ears and made me freeze in fear. It was Honoka-san's voice!
Sped up.
I was near the village.
Hid in the bushes.
Crept forward and peeked out.
The scene that appeared before me horrified.
People. About a dozen.
Some corpulent man in white stood surrounded by four others. Three guys in black. Several were inside Honoka-san's house — she was screaming from within.
They had attacked them!
Soon I spotted the others. Andy-san was lying in a pool of blood, surrounded by these men. His dead eyes were staring into nothing. He wasn't moving. He was dead!
The old man was nailed to the wall of the house. Also dead.
Others of these types were breaking into houses, taking food and anything valuable, scattering something around.
"No! Don't come any closer!" I heard Hotaru scream. He was holding a knife and shielding the children with his body. He was trembling — just like the others.
He stood near the trees with the twins, Tetsu and Tatsu. Two men in black were approaching.
What should I do? What should I do?!
Fear overwhelmed me. My knees shook. My body froze. They were murderers. They were robbers. But these people in black… they were SHINIGAMI!!!
My breathing quickened. I trembled all over.
Scared! I'm so scared!
I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!
"NO-O-O-O!" My friend's scream snapped me out of my stupor.
The big shinigami grabbed him by the head. He raised his sword.
"NO!" I shouted—
The world slowed down again… like yesterday…
I slowly got up and took a step…
I found myself next to them…
I gripped my umbrella and struck the brute in the groin with all my might!
Time snapped back to normal!
The brute collapsed from the blow.
The second one attacked me.
Dodged his grab.
He caught my umbrella.
I pulled the rod out of the umbrella and stabbed him in the neck.
The tip pierced his neck, and the shinigami fell.
Jumped back.
Sharp turn to the right.
Reverse.
Jump forward! In an instant, I was behind the attacker.
A stabbing blow to the back — he screamed in pain!
"RUN!" I shouted to Hotaru. "Take them and run!"
He immediately grabbed Tetsu and Tatsu by the hands and rushed into the forest.
One of the bandits ran after him.
In an instant, I was beside the man and punched him in the groin. I didn't care if it wasn't fair — I was saving my friend's life. Besides, my punch would be too weak if I hit him anywhere else.
The second one tried to grab me but slipped in the mud.
The rain grew only heavier.
Someone rushed past. I couldn't keep up.
I had to stop him!
Then I felt pressure on my shoulders.
Something wrapped around my body — I couldn't move.
A fist appeared before my eyes.
It hurt!
I was thrown against the wall.
Couldn't move.
"How zippy," I heard laughter nearby. Looking up, I saw the shinigami whose neck I had pierced. He was holding his wound and smiling. "Ha, surprised?" he read my gaze. "I'm from the 11th squad. Our captain trains us to fight even with injuries like these. Ha-hah! Didn't think I'd ever be grateful for that torture!" He laughed. He was tall, with short black hair and a bushy mustache, looking about forty. He walked up to the big guy and kicked him. "Stop whining!"
"DAMN IT!" The big guy jumped to his feet abruptly, his face red.
He lunged at me, grabbed me by the hair and hit me in the face.
"A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A!!!" I screamed in wild pain. I was slammed into the wall again. Tears streamed down my face. It hurt. It hurt so much!
He approached quickly and began kicking me.
(End of Chapter)
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