It's really interesting, this feeling of being on autopilot.
Day comes, day goes. Week comes, week goes. And so on.
It's like our own memories are just recycling old content: good things, bad things, frustrating things, fulfilling things.
I'm in an anime world, right? Maybe this is what's called a "time skip" effect? I really don't know.
And honestly, I'm afraid of it — and for good reason:
I can't use my powers.
Don't get me wrong. I can see Plus souls and interact with them, but there's this feeling inside me that holds me back — something that tells me it's not a good idea to actually do it.
"Shit… It wasn't enough for old man Zangetsu to restrain my brother; now I'm going to have a 'Zangetsu' too?"
I've re-evaluated my situation so many times.
"Ike-chan, it's time for you to head to the dojo with your brother!"
My mom yelled from the living room downstairs. I was on the second floor, in my own bedroom.
Yep, I've got my own room now.
See, on my sixth birthday, Mom gave me her Quincy cross! She said it was a family heirloom, and as the eldest, it was my duty to carry on the tradition. If it were someone else (Uryuu), I'd probably think it was some subliminal message to indoctrinate me with Quincy ideals, but since we're talking about Masaki Kurosaki… that just doesn't fit.
The point is, I couldn't even get a glimpse of my energy turning that cross into a bow!
"Did you grab your lunch? And your raincoat? Is everything ready?"
Mom asked as I approached her and Ichigo.
"Yes, Mom. Why do you always do this with me and not Ichigo? I'm the older one!"
Yes, Ichisuke, you're right! Show this woman what true justice is!
slap!
"Ouch!"
Yeah, my mom actually hit me pretty hard…
"First of all, show respect to your elders. Second, you're always daydreaming, head in the clouds, ignoring the world around you. Sigh... My own son doesn't even pity his mother, who worries about him sooo much~"
She lamented dramatically, placing the back of her hand against her forehead.
I winced.
Okay, maybe I space out a little sometimes, but… why the crying face? That's just unfair! No decent son likes seeing his mom cry — not even when she's faking it.
"Sorry… Mom."
How humiliating!
As if nothing had happened, a sunny smile blossomed on my dear mother's face.
Truly, a radiant sun.
I thought, as a small smile threatened to show on my own.
Adjusting my backpack that held a few belongings, I walked beside Ichigo.
"Ike-niisan, do you think I'll beat Tatsuki today?"
Ichigo asked, hope sparkling in his eyes.
As a good older brother, I had to fulfill my role as a guide.
"How many times have you beaten her before?"
"None."
"And how many times have you asked me if you were going to win?"
"Lots of times…"
Nodding wisely, I said:
"That's exactly why, my young little brother, you should keep trying!"
And I gave him a thumbs-up.
…
"I'm only two minutes younger…"
...
Night had fallen over Karakura Town. The moon, imposing in the shadows of a land missing its sun, illuminated the streets swallowed by darkness.
In one of those alleys, two people could be seen — though both were quite literally shrouded in shadow.
One of them spoke, eyes fixed on a certain house:
"This sucks! Why do we have to watch this brat? Isn't he just another outdated Quincy, like any other in the human world?"
The other, a bit more composed, replied:
"Did you forget, you idiot? That blonde slut, Jugram, ordered us to watch that red-eyed boy specifically."
The first now showed clear signs of frustration:
"Yeah, but ughhhh… I've been here for soooo loooong, and I haven't gotten laid in forever! My little bomb's about to go off down there!"
Disgusted, the sensible one snapped back:
"Can't you just take care of yourself?! I'm sick of your whining. Next time, I swear I'll fry your brain!"
This argument, like many before, would go on for quite a while.
As two shadows glimmered with the tender warmth of "camaraderie," the very boy they were watching was lost in his own dilemmas.
...
"Again!"
I really didn't understand why I was having so much trouble controlling the Reishi around me.
Even though I've only tried it a handful of times recently, I used to be able to manipulate the Reishi in the environment.
But over time, that ability became more and more limited… eventually restricted only to my perception.
Yeah, I could sense two stray cats fighting at the end of a street. Why? Because of their faint Reiatsu.
Once more I focused. Closing my eyes, it was like I could see spectral outlines of everything around me — I was seeing the souls of objects: from a small pencil on my desk to the Quincy cross in my hand.
And there it was: what my power was supposed to control — the Reishi. Focusing on my hand, where my birthday gift rested, the Reishi began to stir to my will.
Again… again the Reishi treated me like I didn't exist, slipping right through my hand. It was like something scared it away the moment it got close. Frustrating.
But maybe I know what it is…
"It's a fucking plot nerf!"