melodiesoflife | Cleaning Up the Town

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Cleaning Up the Town

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN
WHAT: Rukia returns from Esdham, dons her Ghostbuster job, and starts pursuing ALL OF THE GHOSTS.
WHEN: October 11th - 30th (not the 15th, 19th, or the 27th, since those are event days)
WHERE: Aqures Ixen and the neighboring areas
NOTES: Rukia will be on the move nearly non-stop. The later you encounter her, the more tired she'll be. That said, you don't HAVE to tag in to fight a ghost; grabbing generic CR with her somewhere along the way is also perfectly acceptable.

Scenario A: Return From Esdham

The airship's propellers had scarcely begun to slow when Rukia, clinging anxiously to the ship's railing, spotted Chappopo making a beeline straight toward her. She'd received word that a new job had been shifted into their crystals that would actually allow them to fight ghosts, and the news had been electrifying. It had been called a 'Ghostbuster' job. The title may have been different, but Rukia was convinced that this would be the job that perfectly mirrored her shinigami abilities. It would be wonderful to have her spiritual senses restored. Perhaps she'd regain her flash step as well!

"Chappopo!" she shouted, taking the crystal out of her robe.

"Rukia!"

Not wasting any time, Rukia threw the crystal to her partner. While she'd very much wanted to keep pursuing the Ninja job a bit longer, she had a feeling Red Mage would give her more versatility just in case she ran into anything that wasn't ghost related. She'd promised to investigate those sewers, after all. Besides, if she turned back into a shinigami, that would be close enough to being a ninja. "Switch out the Ninja job! Now!"

"Got it!" Chappopo saluted, and concentrated her willpower on adjusting the jobs that Rukia had equipped. The shinigami didn't wait for the gangplank to be lowered. Planting her hand on the railing, Rukia vaulted over the edge. A soft glow of light enveloped her as the job switch took effect, illuminating her clothes into a shroud of pure white. She would land elegantly, she knew, holding Sode no Shirayuki in her grasp once more. Landing nimbly, the glow turned into a sharp burst of light...

...And she was in a baggy navy blue jumpsuit with red trim, wearing thick rubber boots, holding a particle beam thrower in her hands.

"...This isn't what I had in mind," she grumbled flatly.

"Me either," Chappopo confessed. As small as Rukia was, she looked like she was practically drowning in that jumpsuit.

She blew out a sigh. "No matter." It may not have been the most fashionable job, but it would allow her to do her work, and that was what was important. After taking a few moments to examine her equipment, the PKE meter she held in her hands suddenly lit up, displaying a small dot on the screen.

Smiling triumphantly, Rukia lifted her head. "Yosh... There's one nearby. Let's get it!" The meter wasn't all that dissimilar to the equipment she'd used to track Hollows when stuck in a gigai. Adapting to this job would surely take no time at all.

Scenario B: Early Ghost Hunting Days (First Week)

[In the hours and days that follow the job switch from Ninja to Ghostbuster, it's incredibly likely that anyone could find Rukia darting through the streets, following a flashing PKE meter, or catch sight of bright bursts of light through the windows of half-ruined buildings where she's tracked down a spook and gone for the capture.]

[Those who know her will see that she's actually...really happy. Determined, yes. Focused, very much so. But the look of pure, undisguised delight on her face can't be missed when she holds up another smoking ghost trap. It doesn't matter if she's smeared with slime or covered in dust. She's doing what she once did (mostly), and it makes her feel whole again.]

[Or, perhaps, you run into the ghost before you run into Rukia. Whether you were looking for it, or it came looking for you, she will find you to lend a hand in driving off any vengeful spirits threatening the peace.]

Scenario C: Later Ghost Hunting Days (Second and Third Weeks)

Rukia's dark eyes studied the PKE meter, and she frowned. There was definitely a spirit somewhere around here, but it was choosing to hide itself. She couldn't get a lock on it. The carpenter assigned to work on restoring the houses destroyed by the Imperial attack had nearly lost his life, assaulted by his own tools just because he'd been hoping to get a little overtime.

If she had to guess by the behavior of the spirit, it was likely to be a Hue. Someone who had died in the attack? Possibly.

With a quiet sound of frustration, she put the meter away and raised her dark light, slowly sweeping it through the gutted home. The halo of pale purple light trembled as it swept slowly over singed curtains and rubble-dusted furniture. Odd... Rukia's gaze shifted momentarily to her hand and realized it was shaking.

Maybe she was more tired than she realized. It had been at least 24 hours since she last rested, and that was only a brief nap she'd stolen during the short trip from Aqures Ixen to Balicea. She couldn't remember the last time she'd stopped to eat anything.

It was impossible to consider her physical needs now, though. She had a job to do. Once it was finished, she'd go pick up something from a restaurant and rest for a few hours...just like she'd said she would do with all of the previous jobs, just before another specter popped up on her PKE meter. There was always one more ghost.

A broken chair hurtled toward Rukia's head. Her breath caught in her throat as she ducked and rolled to the side, dropping the light in favor of her particle thrower. She blasted the chair as it clattered to the floor, but whatever had possessed it had retreated once more, patiently waiting.

"Tch..." Rukia grit her teeth. That had almost got her. She would have to be more vigilant.

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It was just another job, she'd thought. Another blip on the PKE meter to chase. Rukia was exhausted, but her determination kept her on her feet and moving forward. It was just another ghost. She knew that.

So why...

Why was it wearing his face?

He was tall, broad-shouldered with a moderate build, wearing the same black robes Rukia habitually wore when she equipped the Ninja class. At his hip hung a sheathed katana, an emblem bearing the 13th District's insignia tied to his left arm. The black spikes of his short hair lined his brow. He was not particularly handsome, but his smile had been charismatic.

It was twisted now, and seeing it made Rukia's gut clench with anger.

"Well well, if it ain't Kuchi--"

"Don't." Rukia interrupted it, her look of pale shock dropping into a fierce glare.

"Eh...?"

"Don't use his voice. Don't wear his face!" Her gloved thumb pressed the switch on the proton pack, bringing it to life with a humming whine. "Do you think I would be so easily fooled again?! You are mistaken!"

The man blinked, the hand he'd raised to greet her slowly descending. His smile widened, and there was an unmistakable darkness in his countenance.

"Oh, now ain't that a shame...an' here I was hopin' for an easy meal...Kuchiki." Black tendrils spilled out of his back, coiling onto the ground as they started to slither forward.

Rukia's brow tightened, and she hunkered a little lower, standing her ground.

"But I reckon you'll still have a hard time of it--"

She shot him in the face. Her teeth were tightly clenched, beads of sweat pearled on her brow. Her arms shook, but her grip on the particle thrower couldn't be tighter. Her expression hardened as the Shifter howled, tendrils whipping into a frenzy as she took a step forward, then another. She just needed to hold it a little longer to get the trap ready.

Yuffie had been spending a lot of time hunting ghosts: for the monster arena and for her own enjoyment and obviously to help out the town. She had seen almost all there was to see except for this. The expression on Rukia's face was enough for her to hang back, her sharp gaze taking in the sight of the ghost as the bright lights from the proton pack surrounded and contained it.

She didn't know what she saw in that face or heard in that voice but she recognized the other heroes tone. It was something that Yuffie could understand.

Which was why she stayed to the shadows, the ghost slowly being contained by the persistent shinigami's attempt. Bit by bit the light faded and as the ghost was locked away the world slowly returned to blackness. It was then that Yuffie stepped forward, making her presence known. She shifted her own pack as if it suddenly felt heavier than before.

"Hey." Her steps and voice were cautious as if gagging what Rukia's reaction might be. Yuffie actually liked the girl which wasn't true of most of the new heroes. If it had been anyone else she probably would have just left it alone but she didn't really feel right doing that here. "You okay?"

Had Rukia known that Yuffie had chosen to let Rukia fight on her own, she would have thanked her for it. The difference between a fight for honor, and a fight for life...she could understand it a little better now.

The trap sucked in the Shifter, and snapped shut, a curl of oily smoke leaking free as the spirit was sealed away.

Rukia took a step toward it, and stumbled to one knee. It hadn't hurt her. She hadn't even exerted herself all that much. But here she was, shaking and panting for breath as if she'd run hundreds of miles. She closed her eyes tight, resisting the urge to scream in frustration. How many times now? Three. Thrice, she'd seen the face of that man twisted into something ugly and evil. How many more times would it continue to happen? And why did it still affect her like this?

Her fingers curled, knotting the jumpsuit fabric on her thighs as she grit her teeth. "Kch..." She struggled back to her feet, taking a few deep breaths to orient herself, then stepped forward again.

The sound of Yuffie's voice pulled her attention just as she lifted the trap. Blearily she stared at the girl, before her gaze moved back to the ghost.

"Ah," she said with a faint nod. "I'm..."

She wasn't fine. She couldn't even find the strength to lie about it, nor would she.

"...a little tired."

Yuffie hummed softly, Rukia wasn't able to fool her with that sort of excuse.

The young ninja stepped forward until she was face to face with the ghost hunter, her expression oddly thoughtful before she began to speak.

"You knew him." She poke like it was a face except that her voice was more gentle than Rukia had probably ever heard it before.

The princess knew that there was a chance that they'd run into ghosts they knew, faces of those they cared about from home. She's been here long enough to know that this world would play that sort of sick joke. Yuffie had many in her life who've died for her and many who've passed before their time should have come.

She wanted to say something more but instead she bit the inside of her cheek, her mouth filling with a coppery taste of blood.

"...Yes," Rukia confirmed, still looking at the trap. "Rather, I knew the face it wore. But that was not Kaien-dono's spirit."

Her grip on the trap tightened, then relaxed, and she put the trap away.

"He was the vice captain of the 13th Division of the Court Guardians, to which I was assigned. Kaien Shiba. He...treated me like a subordinate, not an aristocrat. And he was kind." Rukia looked back at Yuffie with a quiet, fond smile. "There are few I have ever respected more."

Her smile faded and her gaze dropped as she fell silent for a moment, then she turned away to begin walking. If Yuffie chose to follow, so be it. "He died more than forty years ago, impaled on my own blade."

Yuffie was sticking to Rukia's side, whether she wanted her there or not. Her steps were silent but she made sure that Rukia knew that she wasn't by herself. It sounded to Yuffie as if she might have really liked the guy but she wouldn't press that notion until later.

"Why?" It was an innocent enough question but with it came many implications. If Rukia had killed him it was most likely for a good reason. Yuffie didn't see her as the type to just go around killing people.

"Can I ask that?"

This was ground that Yuffie wasn't used too. She was usually the one who broke down and was all depressed. Somehow seeing Rukia, hearing her plight, she found strength that she didn't know she had and she realized that she wanted to help.

"Hm~" Rukia's head tipped forward and she smiled. Yuffie had never seemed like the type to respect someone's boundaries. But she was being careful now, and it was honestly appreciated. It wasn't the sort of thing Rukia had ventured to speak about with anyone else, really. She'd confessed her sins to Kaien's brother, Ganju. And her captain had been present when it happened, so there was little more to say.

It might not change her feelings on the matter, but it was a little nice to be able to speak about it with someone who truly wanted to know what happened.

"He'd been possessed by a Hollow that had slain his wife. Its spirit had merged with his, and it was eating him from the inside out. It came for me, and I did not drop my sword. So I held him, and he thanked me as he died."

She lifted her head to look at the skies above. The stars were unshrouded by clouds, and she was grateful for that. If it had started to rain, the memories would have been too sharp for her to bear. "This is the third time a monster has used his face for evil. I had thought, by now, surely it could not affect me anymore. ...You must think me a fool."

"Why would I think that?" Yuffie spoke rather bluntly before remembering that this was a sensitive subject. She wouldn't want anyone to be so blunt when talking about her mother and with that in mind she continued, thinking over each word. She was never really good at comforting people though there have been a few instances where she tried.

"Look.. I'm not going to pretend that I understand what you really mean. He was someone you were close to. You're never going to forget but that isn't a bad thing." She took a deep breath trying to organize her thoughts. "I killed my mom. I mean... it's my fault she died. I still blame myself." Which was never going to change. "But I'm going to remember her because through my memories she won't really be gone. I like talking about her because then others remember her too."

God she hoped she was making sense. "In that way it's like she's immortal because no one will forget her. The pain won't go away but having someone... um... even if it's not me, to talk to might help ease it."

She smiled hoping encouraging Rukia. "He must have been a pretty amazing guy after all. I mean, if he trained you." Not that Yuffie's saying directly that she was impressed with Rukia. "And you helped him. Even though it hurt which makes you pretty amazing too."

Yuffie looked down at her feet realizing that she was babbling and that it might not be helping at all. She lightly scratched the back of her head trying to organize her thoughts.

"Your mother...!"

Rukia started slightly. She never would have guessed. Yuffie's cheer and spirit was indomitable. A burden like that was not easily shed, and perhaps it might never truly lift. Yuffie knew this. Rukia knew this. Ichigo, too, had carried a similar weight on his heart at the loss of his mother.

Telling her that the blame was not hers would not be enough. Even so... She took a quiet breath, listening as Yuffie expressed her feelings with such earnest care that Rukia couldn't fail to be touched. Hearing someone else offer such warm praise for the man she admired eased the raw pain in her heart after seeing that twisted spirit wear Kaien's face.

~Do you hear that, Kaien-dono? She hasn't even met you, and still she recognizes the legacy you left to me.~ His spirit was a part of her now. She wondered if he could understand these words. She wondered if he would be proud.

As Yuffie fumbled for her words, Rukia reached out, laying a gentle hand on the top of the girl's hair.

"Yuffie. ...Thank you."

There were a lot of things about Yuffie's own past that didn't ever come up in day to day conversation. The truth was only a handful knew of her mother and less than that knew of her other depressing experiences. She just tried not to let it get her down though at times she over compensated.

"Ah!" She looked up at the hand in disbelief. She was at least two inches taller than Ruki if not more but just this once she'll let Rukia get away with patting her head. She shifted wait from heel to heel feeling a little awkward.

"Yeah, no problem." She thought for a moment before smiling. "I'd be happy to exchange stories, if you ever want too." That sounded awkward but Yuffie was sticking to it. She didn't know how much Rukia would even want to know about her mother and truthfully Yuffie only remembered a little bit about the woman.

"I think I would like that." That one rainy night had been heart wrenching, but it wasn't her only memory. There had been so many moments she'd shared with Kaien that left her warm inside. His casual mannerisms with her, his promise to stand beside his troubled subordinate, his proud smile when she overcame her adversities...

"I'd like that very much."

Rukia removed her hand, feeling an odd sort of peace she didn't expect to embrace after that encounter. Between Yuffie and herself, a little more heart was forged.

"When this is over, let's make it happen." There was still a great deal of work to do, and she didn't feel like she was allowed to rest just yet.

But later... Later, she would like nothing more than to share Kaien's memories with someone else.

Yuffie was always a little awkward with emotional stuff but she tried. There are a lot of things that she hadn't talked with others about and somehow the prospect of having the chance to do that lifted her spirits some.

"AH, yeah. I've been ghost hunting. Trying to get some for the arena too." She smiled the cocky smile that Rukia was no doubt used to.

Non-emotional stuff was easier, of course her offer would always stand with Rukia.

"Do you feel lighter? I do... it's weird."

She bounced a little bit on her toes as if it might display the weird lightness that she felt.

"Arena...?" She wasn't sure she liked the sound of that, but of course she wouldn't, given her propensity to help souls pass on. Keeping them around for the sake of combat seemed foolish. But as she didn't know how to get these souls to move on just yet ~~or so we assume~~, as long as they were contained away from the public, she probably couldn't protest too much beyond a furrowed brow and a frown. "Well, keep up the good work, then."

She took a step, and hesitated, suddenly woozy. Lighter? Yes...but probably not entirely in the sense that Yuffie had indicated. Rukia put a hand against the wall of a building to steady herself.

"I...yes...it's better." She smiled tiredly. Maybe she just needed to lie down and close her eyes for a little while. She wanted to keep going, but if she was too tired to think clearly, she'd be little more than easy prey. Besides, she had a feeling that something big was coming up, though she couldn't say what it was, or why. But she'd made a promise to find the source of all this spiritual unrest, so she needed to be prepared.

"Excuse me, I haven't slept--" GRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU Rukia's stomach interrupted with a loud complaint. She paused, her face turning red. "--in a while," she finished, putting a hand on her middle. Patience, you.

Yuffie almost fell over laughing. She was trying to stay serious and for a moment her expression was one of worry and little else but after hearing Rukia's stomach protest in such a loud fashion she just couldn't hold back.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Let's get you something to eat." She didn't even like sharing food but after an argument like that she could hardly refuse.

Yuffie moved to the girls side with a smile. "There isn't anything open this late but I can make something at my house. Do you need help?" She really did look tired and Yuffie didn't want her to push herself. Though while talking she was thinking about what there was to make at the house. She'd probably just whip up some fried rice and tea.

This was so embarrassing. Rukia wasn't sure her face could get any hotter. But she couldn't really hold that against Yuffie, it was Rukia's fault she'd been neglecting her physical needs for this long.

"I think I can make it," she replied with a smile. Now that she had a destination in mind, it was just a matter of putting one foot in front of the other. That was far less daunting than the thought of a hot pursuit of some rogue spirit. "I would be very grateful. Thank you."

As they walked together side by side, Rukia regarded the ninja girl thoughtfully. "I wasn't aware you knew how to cook. Were you taught here?"

Yuffie laughed a little awkwardly at her question. “Nah, I traveled a lot and since I was really young. If I didn’t know how to cook I probably would have starved.” Though when she was younger things either turned out burnt or she’d visit home, just to sneak in to steal food. Sometimes she stole food from travelers but those memories were a little too bitter to bring up.

“When I was 5…er.. um, right after the war.” Which was shortly after her mother died, “I was kinda pissed with how everything went down. I went on my own little vendetta, training all day and fighting against my father. When I was 9 I left for the first time and then I was on my own for a bit.”

Until she was 13 she always ended up back home though her father sometimes didn’t know it. After that she’d take longer trips out of Wutai. “Oh, I should probably preface all this with the fact that people don’t leave Wutai. That’s not really a thing that happens.”

Much less Wutai's Princess.

Little by little, Rukia was starting to get a better grasp of Yuffie's motivations and why she did the things she did. She was incredibly independent, and strong-willed. Good qualities, when applied to the proper situations.

"That must have taken a great deal of courage," Rukia replied, impressed. "Most children lack that kind of strength. And some adults as well, for that matter."

She was glad they were talking, as it made it easier for her to concentrate on staying awake. Her foot scuffed the ground on occasion to make her stumble, but she remained upright and lucid.

[It was at that time, D chose to walk out of the shadows of the building he was standing beside. He was finishing off his own ghost when Rukia tab into her own. He was there to see how she dealt with it and there when Yuffie revealed her own hiding place. Finally, D heard both stories and didn't feel it right to pretend like they didn't know he knew.]

That was intense.

Edited 2015-10-13 02:10 (UTC)

Yuffie must be slipping because she had no idea that D had been hiding so close. She shouldn't have switched out ninja for ghostbuster but it's to late to change that now. Her shoulders tensed and she looked up at the man curiously.

"How long have you been there?!"

Her tone was a little tense but most surprised. She didn't want to admit that he had caught her off guard but he had.

Yuffie's gaze glanced towards Rukia and she was close to just carrying her sleepy friend back to her house. Or to Yuffie's house because she didn't really know where Rukia lived and Yuffie had a perfectly comfortable couch and tea. All of which were important.

How did he keep doing that?! Rukia started, looking almost guilty as her head whipped around to stare wide-eyed at D. She put her hand out to lean against the wall again, since they'd both stopped walking.

For the moment, she said nothing, because Yuffie's question took priority.

How much had he just seen...?

Since the beginning. [D eyed the tired Rukia and Yuffie's startled expression.] Rukia, are you alright?

Edited 2015-10-13 02:53 (UTC)

At his inquiry Yuffie turned towards Rukia. She hadn't noticed how tired the girl must have really been. For the moment she ignored the since the beginning part and stepped closer to Rukia's side.

"Hey, you can't be that tired. Come on. We can get there."

Yuffie would attempt to carry Rukia and then probably stumble a few times since they are almost the same height and body size.

"I'm all right," she said quickly, flustered. "I've just been pushing myself a little harder than I should. The workload is severe." She smiled a little, to assuage any concerns they might have been harboring.

As for D being there from the beginning, she said nothing. What could she say? Having old heartaches paraded openly on the street for all to see wasn't what she considered to be an ideal way to let her friends get to know her better. Fretting over it would change nothing, though.

She wanted to ask how much farther they had to go, but she didn't want to appear weak. Not right now.

[Walking forward, D picked Rukia up in his arms, cradling her to his chest. She was very light and he felt the faint aura raising off her. Then he looked at Yuffie.]

Where were you both heading? I can take her there.

Yuffie looked up at that pair and then pointed down the road. If Rukia wasn't going to argue then she'd continue to be a guide.

"My house." She still didn't know where Rukia lived. "I was going to make her something to eat and let her get some rest. It's close. Just a block away."

October 29th - Closed to Yuffie

October 29th - Closed to Yuffie

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You made me cry!

I cried too, so there!

GOOD!

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Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!

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Re: Now Open to D Too!

Re: Now Open to D Too!