BLEACH: In a Haze [Rukia X Orihime / Yoruichi X Soi Fon]

Kuchiki Rukia x Inoue Orihime, Shihouin Yoruichi x Soi Fon

Sometimes, you don't even know what you're doing.

I heard the girl's voice and turned around in surprise.

How could a human possibly see a Soul Reaper?

But she really could see me. I stared at her without expression, though inside I was raging: I'd have to erase her memory later and report this to my superiors. What an annoying job. But this was my own carelessness, too.

I should have told her, "My name is Kuchiki Rukia."

Instead, I said, "I'm a Soul Reaper."

The girl stared at me in astonishment, her brown eyes wide.

She obviously didn't believe me. I'd been protecting her for two whole days, after all. I walked over, the blade of Sode no Shirayuki dragging along the ground. She took a step back, her face paling.

Before I could say anything, her eyes began to fill with tears.

"Has my time come, Lord Soul Reaper?" The weak human was so frightened just hearing my profession. Come to think of it, humans really do seem to fear death. Sometimes the souls of the dead can't wait for a Soul Burial and turn into Hollows, leaving us Soul Reapers frantic.

"That's right. If I hadn't come, you would have died." I wasn't wrong. A newly born Hollow was wandering nearby, waiting for a chance to attack her. If I hadn't come, it would have eaten her already.