Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Yuichi crashed into the ground as he was thrown out of the Senkaimon gate. As he stands Yuichi holds his head, his disorientation evident as he surveys the unfamiliar surroundings. The process of traversing dimensions had been far from smooth. As he gathered his bearings, he realized something was amiss—this was not the expected meeting point where all the students were supposed to arrive together.

 

Instructor Kensei had explicitly mentioned that they would all appear in the same area upon entering the human world. Yet, here Yuichi stood alone, forcibly ejected from the gateway. The disconcerting sensation lingered, accompanied by a splitting headache and a wave of nausea.

 

Blinking away the remnants of the vertigo, Yuichi took in the scene before him. He stood at the edge of a town, reminiscent of what he had seen in historical depictions from the late 19th century. The architecture bore a blend of traditional Japanese design and the encroaching influence of Western modernization. Wooden structures lined the narrow streets, adorned with paper lanterns that swayed gently in the breeze. The air carried the faint scent of cherry blossoms, hinting at the serene beauty that contrasted with the bustling energy of daily life.

 

The streets were alive with activity. Merchants in traditional attire manned stalls, their voices hawking wares ranging from fabrics to exotic spices. Rickshaws navigated through the crowded thoroughfares, pulled by laborers clad in simple, yet sturdy, garments. It was a tableau of a bygone era, frozen in the timeless embrace of the past. The juxtaposition of the old and the new was evident in the architectural spectrum that ranged from classic wooden buildings to structures that hinted at the advent of a more modern era. The distant echoes of conversation and the distant clatter of a blacksmith's workshop contributed to the lively ambiance.

 

Going by a feeling he guessed this was Karakura Town or the place that would eventually become that place. His proof being that although the human world lacked much reishi he felt fine instead of weakening and the number of souls was staggering. Karakura Town was an area in the Human World that had the highest concentration of Spirit Energy and the highest rate of attracting spiritual beings, referred to as the Jūreichi.

 

The town square, a focal point of community life, hosted a variety of activities. A storyteller enthralled a captivated audience with tales of mythical creatures and heroic feats. Nearby, a group of artisans demonstrated the meticulous art of calligraphy, their brushes gracefully gliding across parchment.

 

The attire of the townsfolk reflected the cultural nuances of the period—women adorned in vibrant kimonos, men wearing hakama, and children playing with simple toys crafted from natural materials. There were a few people wearing a more westernized outfit. As Yuichi meandered through the streets, he grimaced at the prospect of being in this cursed place that always seemed to be in danger one way or another.

 

As he navigated the lively streets, a sense of urgency tugged at him. He needed to locate his fellow students and figure out a way back to the Soul Society. He needed information so he decided to approach a random soul—a woman in a vibrant kimono—who seemed to be lingering near a bustling market stall. The woman looked at him with curiosity and a hint of recognition, the two worlds converging in a fleeting connection. He asked her a simple yet crucial question.

 

"Have you seen anyone else around here, someone dressed like me?" Yuichi inquired, gesturing to his academy Shihakusho, the standard attire of a Soul Reaper.

 

The female spirit, a Plus caught in the cycle of the living world, regarded Yuichi with a serene expression. "No, I haven't seen anyone else dressed like you. I'm afraid you're the only one I've come across today."

 

Yuichi's brow furrowed with a mix of disappointment and concern. If he was alone in this unfamiliar version of Karakura Town, it meant that his fellow students might have been scattered across different parts of the town or, worse, had been sent to another location or even another world.

 

Finding her answer satisfactory, Yuichi took a moment to explain his presence. "Thank you for answering my question. Since no one has done it for you yet, I will do it. How about I help you find your way to the afterlife? It's safer than having you become a hollow."

 

The Plus, a soul unaware of the spiritual realm's intricacies, nodded in agreement. She was willing to accept Yuichi's offer, guided by the prospect of transitioning to the next stage of existence.

 

Yuichi unsheathed his zanpakutō, tapping the hilt against the female Plus's forehead with a gentle yet purposeful motion. A brief flash of light emanated from the point of impact, leaving an emblem on her forehead. The Plus, now marked for the journey to the afterlife, began to sink into the ground surrounded by a soothing blue light.

 

As she descended, the town's energy shifted, a ripple in the spiritual fabric as the Plus departed for Soul Society. A Jigokuchō, a small black butterfly with a skull pattern on its wings, fluttered away from the point of departure, bearing witness to the soul's final journey.

 

The other spirits, observing the ritual, clamored with curiosity and a touch of anxiety. One of them, bolder than the rest, spoke up, "What just happened? Where did she go?"

 

Yuichi turned to address the gathering spirits, offering a concise explanation. "I sent her to the afterlife, to start her process of rebirth. If any of you are willing, I can do the same for you. In exchange, I hope you’ll help me search around the town and find out if any others who look like me have arrived here."

 

The proposition hung in the air, the spirits contemplating the offer. For them, the chance to move on to the next stage of existence was an enticing prospect. If they just searched around the town and reported back then he would do it for them. The offer was quite enticing and many souls had been attacked by hollows before, so a chance to escape all that was too valuable to pass up.