The Suicidal And The Sacrificial

Entity Called Humans

Sumire's Apartment

Nozomi blinked a few times. "This is quite a small place", she commented without hesitation. Sumire threw a pillow on her face which she caught. "I live alone so it can suffice", the raven head started pilling her books neatly on a shelf. That day when her soul was reaped, she left some books open. "I read this one. Izuru brought human books and read them to me while I was immobilized", Nozomi picked one. "Make sure to place it back where you took it!", Sumire scolded. "There's nothing else to do", she pouted. "Why don't you go back to Soul Society? I bet Captain Unohana will be thrilled having to hear that you weren't able to complete the task she gave you", Sumire said something that froze the lady. 

"Then, what are we supposed to do?!!", Nozomi rolled on the floor. "You really act like a child. Did your brain regress from sleeping that long", Sumire fixed the futon and lay down. "You're sleeping already?", Nozomi was shocked. "I am tired of having to babysit you. Don't you have any shame? You're the one who caused me this trouble but I have to take care of your mess", Sumire didn't bother sugar-coating her words. "You are all meanies. How can you treat me this way?", Nozomi whined and went to the corner of the room. She started scratching the walls. "Being a shinigami isn't that bad. If they won't able to find a way to fuse my soul back, I wouldn't bother to continue being one. It's a drag but it's better than having to go back here", Sumire turned the other way in order not to see Nozomi's foolish display of childishness. Nozomi stopped scratching the wall and leaned on it having her feet rest on the cold floor. She noticed Sumire's thin futon. The place is basically empty with just a stove, a cabinet, and a shelf. 

"They'll find a way to fuse your soul back. If you continue being a shinigami without a sword, you'll just be useless", Nozomi leaned on the wall. "Says the one who got her sword confiscated", Sumire scoffed.  "There's no way that Soul Society would entertain a shinigami who has no use in a war. There were some who could have had more. Consume your life then die properly", Nozomi opened the window and jumped out. 

Bakery Shop

Orihime was startled to see Nozomi peeking through the glass wall. She sweatdropped and waved her hands. "It's this late and you're still working?", Nozomi entered and sat at one of the tables. She was in her gigai form. "Bread? The boss gave this to us", Orihime offered. "At least, someone could at least be a little nicer to me", Nozomi gladly accepted it with a huge smile. "Is it that difficult to earn human food?", Nozomi took one and shove it into her mouth. "Somehow, as time goes by, there seemed to be a shortage of food so prices are increasing. One has to work to earn enough", Orihime gladly explained how the system works in the human world. "That's why Sumire is so skinny and pale. She's not a lot", the white head leaned on the table while munching on the bread. 

"You see. About Yoru-chan, I've known her since we were young. We were neighbors and my brother started taking care of her sick mother", Orihime removed her apron and sat in front of Nozomi. It was past closing time but she didn't mind closing while a supposed customer entered the shop.  "She was raised by her mother. Yoru-chan was born out of wedlock though her father already had a family. At such a young age, Yoru-chan learned about being a daughter of a prominent family. Rumors went around that it was her mother who took initiative because of the wealth of the man who got her pregnant. Both her mother and father incurred a terminal illness. Just three years ago, Yoru-chan was forced to live independently having to live by whatever her mother saved and some money that her father secretly placed under her name. Just recently, her father died", the orange head found it necessary to share the story with Nozomi, a stranger whom she felt comfortable with. 

"I am not sure about this but watching her over the years, I just can't help but hope that she's not living her life ashamed of her family background", Orihime narrated. Nozomi silently listened to the point that Orihime thought she was asleep since she is leaning on the table. 

"For saving her from that bridge, you have my thanks. Shinigami-san", Orihime bowed her head. "I cannot call that saving. I just delayed her death but having to hear you, I am more than sure that she must have hated me for ruining her plan of being sent to paradise", Nozomi sat straight and stretched her limb. "It's getting late. Let me bring you home", Nozomi raised her hand. "My name is Orihime Inoue", the orange head introduced. "Just Nozomi", the white head reached out her hand for a handshake which Orihime gladly took. 

Why don't I have something that they have? A family? A friend? A comfortable life?

Sumire's Apartment

The lady was awoken by the scent of meat being cooked. She panicked and saw Nozomi cooking in her gigai form. "It took me some time to figure out how this work. It's a good thing I went to Orihime's house last night", Nozomi winked. "You went bothering other humans again", Sumire clicked her tongue and started fixing the futon. "Where did you sleep? I didn't feel someone beside me last night", Sumire furrowed her brow. "Are you worried about me? That's making my heart melt", Nozomi clasped her hands together. She stayed awake all night just staring at the pitiful human being she came across to. The raven head shot a disinterested look. "I was just making sure that I will not have to fix any of your mess once more", Sumire finally understood that the white head is a walking hazard. 

The two sat at the center table. Sumire poked the meat couple of times. "Are you making sure it wasn't human meat?", Nozomi tilted her head. Sumire's appetite was just ruined. "Eat well, human. After this, we might get busy", Nozomi smiled and watched the raven head munch the food elegantly. She didn't live a luxurious life but everything she does was that of a noble. "Why aren't you eating? You were complaining a lot yesterday about being hungry", Sumire asked while putting some food on Nozomi's plate. "Although I know you can still live weeks and months not consuming any food, you're just being a pain in the ass wanting to taste human food. Being a shinigami is convenient, you don't have to feel the pangs of hunger that much", Sumire's eyes focused on the grain of rice. 

"I happen to know someone. She was also stubbornly dull and she was all rules are everything. She persistently lectures and scolds me about almost everything. About my handwriting, the way I pour the tea, the way I talk to my superior. When I'm with that person, it seems that I haven't done anything right during my lifetime", Nozomi held on to her chopstick. "Seems like we would agree with a lot of things most especially with the latter part", Sumire had a teasing smile. "I know. Very alike", Nozomi had a small pout. Her face slowly softens having one that is relaxed and it wasn't the usual face she does. "But she never gave up. No matter what, that person kept moving forward", the white head felt an odd change in Chad and Inoue's reiatsu. "Stay here and use a spell to surround your room with a barrier", Nozomi turned to her Shinigami form and then left. 

Sumire was left contemplating Nozomi's final sentence. She did as Nozomi instructed. The barrier was different from the last time. 

Chapter end.