13th's game

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Mission: plot related

A strange hollow signature has been reported in Karakura town. It appears and seems to disappear at will, what's causing the disturbance is unknown. The disturbance has been going on for the last two days, and seems to be coming from a powerful presence. No casualties have been reported or if there are they have not been discovered.

~in the seireitei~

Cora wanders around and notices the door to Altria's room cracked slightly, she peers through the crack and sees Altria laying on the bed with her face buried in her pillow. She knocks lightly on the door and has a puppy dog look on her face. "A'lria? can Cora come in?"

A garganta opens near the abandoned building, Destadi steps out and closes it behind him. detecting the irony scent of blood in the air he walks into the building and jumps down the hole in the stairwell's floor. He lands lightly and gazes around the room, "...... Death.......... this room is heavy with the scent of death....... who?" Destadi examines the blood on the floor and walls, " ...... Arcana... number 13..... Mikiru was here.........." he pauses and stares at the cracked wall, "Miyuu was definitely here........," he turns to one particular spot and picks up Altria's reiatsu signature. "Altria..........," His eye's widen as he picks up on the last faded signature of Shiro's reiatsu. "........ shi.... shiro-sama........ TCH!" He glares, pure rage flickers in his eyes like a blazing firestorm. "........ The Death did this......... and he shall answer for it." He sonidos away from the building and passes Miyuu.

Wiping her eyes Altria sits up."Of course,come on in Cora."

Cora walks in and crawls up and sits next to Altria on the bed, "A'lria? where's 'Niisan?" she looks up at Altria with a curious look.

Sucking in a deep breath Altria looks away."Shiro..he's ..he's gone away for a while.." She pats Cora's head.

Cora looks up at Altria with a curious look, " Oh..... 'Niisan went somewhere?" She stares at Altria then crawls onto her lap and hugs her. " 'Niisan be home soon?" she gives altria the 'puppy eyes'.

Biting her lower lip she nods and hugs Cora,answering in a slightly choked voice."Y-yeah.."

~A week later~

Waking up in the streets of rukongai, " erg.... my head...... what hit me?" He gets up and dusts himself off, and looks around. " I think I lost th-" He turns around to see a group of shinigami from 11th division racing towards him, " Come back here! We're not through with you!!" gulping he turns and runs away, " NOO!!! I beat you fair and square! Let me alone already!" angry shouting erupts from the group as he races farther into the distance.

Through the week Altria has been getting more and more distant.She answered questions with a fake,cheery smile on her face and tried to avoid conversations.Seeing same nightmare each night and getting little sleep her eyes were rimmed with dark circles.Eating little she kept disappearing off to somewhere.Though 2nd division Captain gave her time off she still kept going on missions alone,even when there were teammates waiting,getting back badly wounded each time for after her closing off Tsukiyomi was now unable to reach her and shikai became unreachable.
Walking out of the 4th division after getting her latest injury treated she dejectedly inspected the slightly red bandages on both of her arms,going from wrist to shoulder.White bandaging also on her chest peeked through her uniform top.Carefully running a hand over the deep slash on her cheek she stares at the blood mixed with ointment now gathered on her fingers. Dropping her hands she started down the street,spacing out and hollowly staring off into the distance,unaware of angry shouting up ahead.

Cora follows Altria and notices the angry shouting, " ?? A'lria? People are really angry at something.." Someone comes running by incredibly fast, "AHH!! Excuse me! Excuse me! so sorry!" He trips and face plants the ground in front of Altria, he pushes himself up and dusts himself off, " So sorry! My apologies." just as he gets up the group from 11th division catches up to him. "Got you! now I want a rematch! right now!" He stares at the tall buff looking man and turns to run but is grabbed by the back of his shinigami uniform, " I told you no! I won fair and square! lemme go!"

shin came out from his room and went outside to get some fresh air.

(in thought)
"It's been a week since that happened, and ever since, it's not that normal anymore."

shin takes a walk then..

Snapping into awareness she stares at the officer from 11th division,remembering him from a previous fight.Suddenly angry she flash steps behind him and with a shift kick sends him sprawling to the ground."You trash,haven't learned your lesson yet?Do you want me to report this to your captain?He'll be really happy..or would you like another fight with me?I'll be glad to beat you into pulp again." Finally noticing the figure they were chasing she stares at him with wide eyes,paling at the sight of black bangles around his arms."??? You..that's..impossible..S-Shiro?"

The guy from 11th stares at Altria then glares "Tch... alright come on... let's go guys... He's no fun anyway." The guy from 11th throws Him to the ground with a thud, then motions for the other four to follow. "erg.... that hurt....... jerks.." He gets up and dusts himself off again, "thank you.. by the way... what did you... call me? " Cora stares at him curiously.

At the sound of his voice Altria envelopes him in a tight hug,his last words going unnoticed in her happiness."It is you!Shiro!You're alive..I--I thought I've lost you forever!"

He blushes but seems very confused. "Shi-shiro? ..... um..... huh???" He suddenly becomes rigid and has a flash back. (in thought) 'Ung.... Ah.... what the heck is this?? Someone? A girl? ...... a scythe......... someone dying......... erg..... my head hurts............ someone crying.... and calling... Shiro??' He seems totally confused.

Finally hearing his words Altria let's go and stares at him searchingly with sad eyes. "Don't..don't you know who I am?Don't you remember me?Shiro..that's your name.."

He looks even more confused, ".... m-my........ n-name?? Ung!" He has a major headache as more memories pop up from a time forgotten. " ung........ wh-who? .... ah... my head........ ow...." he looks even more confused, " I... I got here 2 days ago........ I... Don't know......... ugh...... I can remember where I've been........ name name........ don't remember name......... grr.." looks somewhat frustrated. " I can't remember anything.......... mmph..."

Altria grasps a spot above her heart tightly,as it twinges in sharp pain.'He..doesn't remember me?..No..he's alive,that's all that matters,memories will return..even if he never regains them..never remembers the time spent together.. as long as Shiro is alive,it's fine..' Shaking her head she gently takes his hand into her own bandaged one."Your name is Shiro Asaka.We were..friends.My name's Altria Mizuno,this is Cora..you found her in Rukongai and she's been with you ever since.Come,maybe if you see where you lived it'll help to remember something? 2nd division is close by..I'll tell you more there.."

~Human World,Karakura~
Jumping slightly in surprise as Destadi passes by her she shivers slightly feeling rage bubbling from him.Quickening her step she quickly catches up,"Oi!Desta..wait will ya.There's nothing ya can do now..The Death went back to their HQ probably.He might not make it..Altria-chan incurred devastating injuries.." She pulls out the tarot card covered in blood.

Cora walks over to 'Shiro' and clings to his leg, " 'Niisan." she hugs his leg tightly. " He looks down, and isn't sure what to do. ".... I guess I could go with you..... I don't have anywhere to stay...." he looks even more confused when Cora crawls up and sits on his shoulder, but decided to go with it. (in thought) ' ...... ung....... my head hurts soooo much! ....... she says i'm..... !! wait... my name IS Shiro! ...." He smiles suddenly, " I- I remember now! My name is Shiro! but..... I don't remember anything else yet.... just... fuzzy..... " looks very confused again.

"Of course..you just needed a reminder."Smiling for the first time in a week she heads back towards the 2nd division,arriving after a few moments.Opening the door to her quarters she motions him inside.

Shiro enters and looks around with a curious expression on his face. "..... I... I know this place..... w-wait....... this... is this?" he goes to one particular room (his former room) "!" (in thought) '...... it... feels..... like a hollow presence... but there's no hollow........ ung my head....' He feels somewhat dizzy and leans on the doorway. "....nhg..... so... nostalgic...... why?" more memories pop into his mind, there is someone with long sliver hair and is always with this arrancar. " mmph....." the name Altria echos throughout the memory. "... her? no... i don't know.... uhg...."

"That was your room..Shiro.This might sound weird to you now but..you used to be an Arrancar before.Last week..we got lured into a trap and you were.." She shakes her head.

Shiro is looking more and more confused. (in thought) ' ...... I..... I died?!?!' More memories from when he was an arrancar flood into his mind. (in thought) ' erg.... this is painful.... what... what is this..... I feel... overwhelmingly sad suddenly..... a scythe..... a scythe...... darkness... then a void..... and.....' his thoughts continue to race as he tries to comprehend everything that is suddenly emerging. '...... uhg.... my head...' he suddenly blacks out and slumps against the doorway.

"Shiro!" Catching him with worry she manages to lift him up with a bit of effort,biting her lower lip when sharp lines of pain flare up along her injured hands,red lines appearing along the white bandages.Walking into his room she carefully places him on the bed.Gently Altria sweeps a few strands of hair from his face."I'm sorry Shiro..remembering a whole life is painful..it would have been better to go gradually..But I just wanted.." trailing off she falls silent.Taking a chair from near the window she pushes it close to the bed before climbing into it and watching Shiro as if afraid he'll fade away any moment.'Not the same but still Shiro.That look,he's a shinigami now?Reincarnation doesn't work this fast..Is this possible because it was a shinigami's zanpakuto that...Arrancars are still Hollows after all..yes,that explains it.Kami..nothing less then a miracle and devils luck.' Smiling she wipes her eyes with one bandaged hand,quietly whispering,"Alive..but not the same..'no memory is ever truly beyond one's reach'..isn't that what you said?..maybe a reminder?..then..this is your tale Shiro.." Talking quietly she recounts their first meetings followed by near death fight and subsequent events,finishing with the last weeks fight."..please..just remember.." Tired,she sinks deeper into the chair, her eyes soon grow heavy and close..exhaustion from a week of little sleep and recent fight finally catching up.She falls into a troubled sleep.