Rukongai

Rukongai.....

Although a part of the Soul Society, Rukongai had its own history, apart from the Seireitei. Being the home for rogue souls who had just crossed over, it was filled with all manner of violence, despite being labeled as one of the bases of the Shinigami corps.

As the midday sun shone onto the land, the busy citizens, tried to make a living for themselves, some selling antique swords that were believed to have been used by past Shinigami, totems as well as necklaces that could be used to ward off Hollows.

According to historians, the world was divided into three separate dimensions. First was the human world, the place for all living souls who had been born into the world. When these living souls, particularly human die, their souls are transported to the Soul Society depending on how well they lived their lives.

Souls bearing resentment and could not cross over were transformed into Hollows, who knew nothing but to devour and destroy, and such beings dwelled in Hueco Mundo.

Being the nexus of these three dimensions, the Soul Society was tasked with maintaining balance in the world. Shinigami were tasked with helping souls to cross over into the soul society while Hollows were exorcised, their sins cleansed and their souls transformed into their original state, before they are transported to the soul society to live on, continuing the endless cycle of life and Death.

Standing before a candy shop, a figure dressed in a red Komodo with white pants, with a straw hat couldn't help but smile in surprise while examining the candy to chose one for his liking. The most prominent feature of his handsome face, a battle shaped cross scar seemed menacing, however the gentle look on his face seemed to overshadow the bloodthirsty presence he could erupt with at any time.

On his waist, a sheathed blade was wrapped in cloth and strongly fastened, while his violet irises shone brightly like gems, partially obscured by yhr strands of red hair that fell over his face.

"Hello shopkeeper. Please get me this one.."

He smiled and took out pieces of coins from his robes and then paid the old shopkeeper, before walking away with a smile.

"Mmm. It's good.."

Tasting the candy, his smile widened, as he continued eating while admiring the landscape.

"Get over here you thief!!!"

Suddenly behind him, a large commotion took place, with a fat middle aged man with a butcher's knife, chasing a young toddler who was running away with a loaf of bread in his hands.

Running with all his might, the toddler still could not get far, as he tripped and fell to the ground, a bruise opening up on his leg.

"Got you today you little rascal! Die!!"

The fat middle aged man raised his blade and chopped down fiercely as the boy toddler closed his eyes in fear. The onlookers did nothing and looked on unconcerned, as if numbed to this kind of commotion.

Opening his eyes for a moment, the young boy realized that the awaited death did not come, as he raised his head only to see a figure in a straw hat grabbing onto the hand of the fat man, the blade only an inch from his forehead.

"Who are you?!"

The fat man struggled, however his arm was tightly clamped by the intruder who happened to the figure in the straw hat.

"Me? I'm just a wanderer. He's just a little kid, please let him go.."

The figure in the straw hat had a gentle smile on his handsome face, however it only served to enrage the ugly fat man even further.

"Let me go!!"

The handsome man finally let go of the fat man who arrogantly combed his hand through his hair and rearranged his clothes.

"This little thief has been stealing from me for a long time. If it wasn't for a trap I put out today, I will never have been able to get him. You expect me to just let it go?! Think again pal!!"

The fat man roared out and then swung his blade, aiming for the handsome youth's neck. With a surprised expression, the youth bent himself to an unnatural angle effectively dodging the attack, however the fat man was relentless. Repeatedly swinging his blade, the youth manuevered around dodging all the attacks by a hair's width.

"Please wait! Wait!".

The youth raised his hands as if to surrender, with a pleasing smile on his face.

"What?!"

The fat man's patience was limited, however he halted for a moment.

"How much. I'll pay for whatever he has stolen.."

The red haired handsome man took out a small pouch from his robes and threw it to the fat man who caught it immediately looked through and coldly harrumphed.

"I won't be so forgiving next time.."

"Thank you for your mercy.."

As he walked away, the red haired handsome youth bowed smilingly, before he turned towards the child who was totally flabbergasted by the sudden turn of events.

"It's alright. Use this to buy whatever you want. No more stealing okay?"

Taking out another pouch from his robes, he handed it over to the kid and then crouched low to look him in the eyes.

Watching the teary eyed boy, an image of another young boy crying in the rain overlapped with the image of the toddler for a moment, as his eyes hardened, however they softened considerably when the boy hugged him.

....

Meanwhile, as the whole spectacle unfolded, two figures watched, interpreting it from their own perspective.

"What a goody two shoes. It's a miracle someone like him has survived so long in this area.."

The first figure, a young boy with short silver hair dressed in ordinary black robes spoke, and beside him a beautiful young lady, dressed in black Shinigami robes with a sword strapped to her waist frowned.

"What do you mean, Shiro-chan? If he hadn't stepped in that man would've killed the child. I don't think even I would've been able to make it in time.."

The young girl commented and shook her head while the boy merely shrugged.

"I'm just saying, Momo, Rukongai is a tough place. If you need to survive you have to be tough and cold. Strength is the only thing that matters.."

Tightly clenching his fists the young boy commented while the girl shook her head.

"Anyway, we are to wait in this District, Vice Captain Matsumoto says she'll come pick us up here.."

The young lady known as Hinamori spoke while the young boy raised a brow.

"Why are you wait here? Aren't you a shinigami? Can't you get us into the Seireitei?"

"Im not yet a shinigami you brat. I'm still a student in the academy. Im sure Vice Captain Matsumoto will be here soon. Let's just wait a bit.."

Both of them argued, however in the end the youth had to listen to her and pout.

"What's the use of carrying the sword around then?"

Whispering in a low voice, the turned his head to the side, however Hinamori clearly heard him sighed and took a step forward, wanting to pull on his ear, however the moment her foot stepped onto the ground, she slipped on a puddle of water and fell.

Closing her eyes firmly, the impact she awaited never came. In the end, she squinted her eyes and slowly opened them, only to see a smiling handsome face that stunned her for a moment.

Someway, somehow, the handsome man in the straw hat had managed to catch her before she fell to the ground.

"Yesterday's rain has left the ground a bit muddy. You should watch your steps.."

Gently helping her to her feet, the man smiled, while a blush slowly crept up the face of the young girl.

"T-Thank you v-very much. My name is Momo Hinamori, and this is Toshiro Hitsugaya. I'm a student of the Shinigami Academy."

She introduced herself and extended her hand for a handshake, while Toshiro coldly chuckled.

"My name is Kenshin, Himura Kenshin." The red haired handsome man introduced himself with a smile.

"Oi, are you a shinigami?"

Sizing the figure standing before then, Toshiro couldn't help but feel something. As if his gut was telling him to stay away from this person at all cost.

"Where are your manners, young man?!"

Momo moved to punish him for the disrespect, but he dodged anyway.

"I'm just asking, since he's carrying a blade with him. You hardly see people in Rukongai carrying swords around with them.."

Toshiro chuckled, while Kenshin smiled.

"No, I'm not a shinigami. I'm a wanderer, and this is a family heirloom."

He cleared the confusion, as Momo nodded and smiled.

"So it's a toy then..." .Toshiro on the other hand chuckled as Momo raged once more.

"Anyway, it was good to meet you two. Hope to see you again.."

Waving his hand enthusiastically he slowly walked away from the duo.

"There's something strange about him.." Toshiro uttered, while Momo glared at him in annoyance.

"Anyway, I'm making a move on. I can't stay in this goddam place forever, Momo..."

"Hey wait!!"

Grunting in annoyance, Momo couldn't help but follow along as they made their way into deeper parts of the Rukongai.

Meanwhile, as Kenshin walked along the paths of the Rukongai district his expression hardened for a moment.

'I need to stay away from the Shinigami. Although my identity is still unknown by the Gotei 13, it's still better to remain hidden..'

Thinking to himself, Kenshin enjoyed his candy with a smile. The only thing he was proud about in his past was the fact that he had kept his identity hidden from the very beginning.

A skilled assassin never revealed his identity. A rule he lived by, even to the point of masking himself and his reiatsu. That was how he managed to hide his presence, however even with that some Captain's had still managed to sense him in the nick of time.

Sighing for a moment, he was about to continue his journey when he halted for a moment.

'This reiatsu...It's that Shinigami girl....A hollow attack?"

Sighing to himself, he turned around and disappeared like a ghost. As if he was never there in the first place.

A/N: Alright that's it for today. Stay tuned for more..