Her Mission

She wasn’t really sure why she took this job. Or why they were asking someone in the first place. Most shinigami didn’t care about the lower districts, or where too afraid to go there. Larentia was one of the last group.

Gangs and violent people weren’t on the list of things she loved, or even liked. But she wasn’t doing this for them, she reminded herself. There are children there too... She sighed and continued walking with lead in her shoes.

First she would need to pick up water, a large ton of water. Carrying it was going to be a pain and it would make her an easier and slower target for groups. If you’re so against it, just quit stupid. Kiniro commented. Larentia noticed that he had gotten more active lately, even when she wasn’t using him.

I can’t just quit now, I haven’t even started yet. She replied agitated. [i]And nobody else would do it, so I will. It’s just a few years, nothing big. [i] Kiniro didn’t stop there, but continued to try to talk her out of it. She looked her feet and pushed him back to the back of her thoughts.

She looked at the beautiful houses in the first districts while she walked by. She wondered why they couldn’t just share, or help others themselves. I’m sure at least 50 people could live in that house, without ever seeing each other... Larentia thought when she walked by a big mansion.

The houses got smaller as she passed more districts. Eventually she reached a stand where they told her to pick up the water. They also have her money, so she could buy more when she needed water or food to help restore her reiatsu. She thanked the man and payed him, before lifting up the big ton and tying it on her back.

She could feel her back ache when she continued to walk towards the lower west districts. They told her it would be necessary to defend herself. People would try to take her water, or attack her just because they hate shinigami. They even told her it would be okay if she killed someone, but only in self-defence.

Not they they would notice another body. Kiniro grinned. It’ll be good for you, wimp! She hoped it wouldn’t be as bad as they told her. It’ll be fine, you’re going to help them, they should leave you alone.

She passed the 53th district and handed out some water to a small group of orphans. She smiled at how happy they looked and healed their wounds. They surrounded her when they tried to leave, pulling her robes. One even latched on her leg and it took awhile before she got the little boy of.

“I’ll comeback in a while!” She promised them and eventually they let her go. If it’s already bad here... Larentia continued to walk. the amount of shinigami in the streets seemed to decline as she walked on.

She was invited by a family to stay over that night, the house was small. Even for her, she grew up in the 11th district herself. These houses where as big as their living room. It was basically kitchen with a table and mattresses around it. Larentia felt sorry for them, but compared to those whom didn’t have a house or a job, they had it good.

They only had rice for a meal and Larentia shared her water with them. The rice was dry, but she didn’t dare to ask for anything more. For them this was probably a big meal. In return, she told them about Soul Society and promised to take their son with her, back to Soul Society.

She was more than happy to do that for them. He could help his family to get a better life that way and he had more than enough reiryoku to become a good shinigami. Larentia declined the offer of sleeping on one of their mattresses and slept on the floor, close to the door. The sun awoke her early, but she hardly caught any sleep.

The young boy starred at her eagerly, hoping that she would take him with her right now. “Keep practicing,” She told him and kneeled down to his level. “Train sword fighting and moulding your reiatsu. I’ll have to go on, and it’ll be dangerous.” He looked sad but nodded. “I’ll come back in a few years. “

The family waved to her and quickly went back inside. Larentia had to refill her water ton, it was getting light. But she had to share it with others when they needed it. She neared the districts in the 70th’s. It all started to look like slums and she started to run out of water quickly.

A small stall in a market offered water, the price wasn’t too bad. But the man looked at her money like it was a fortune. He filled up her water ton quickly and accepted the coins like they were made of solid gold. “Thank you miss! Please, come back if you need more!” He smiled brightly and quickly hid the money.

Before going on with her trip, she bought some food. A bag of small rice cookies and another bag of various dried fruits. Both of the shop keepers where amazed by the amount she paid and the amount she bought. After storing both of the bags in her own, she went on her way.

Some civilians look her with fear, others looked angry and a few moved away as quickly as possible. A few minutes later she arrived where she was going to start. A small run down house, with lots of little children outside. Most of them stopped playing when she walked towards them, slowly and smiling.

A tall teenager, stopped in front of her. He couldn’t be older then thirteen or fourteen, but he acted like he was an adult. “What do you want?” He asked angrily and focussed on the water barrel on her back. “I’m here to help you and your friends.” She answered calmly and took the barrel of her back.

He still looked at her with hostility, while she filled the cups of the children. The small ones looked up with amazement, but they probably never saw a shinigami like her. “Why are you here?” The older boy asked. “I accepted a mission to help in the lower districts. Meanwhile I will also help finding new spirits for the Shinigami academy. “

Her answer wasn’t enough for him and he continued. “But why? None of you ever come down here.” She nodded. “It’s dangerous out here, I guess most other shinigami are afraid.” The hostility here was amazing even when they didn’t know why she was here. “But I’ll swear I’m here to help you.”

He grunted and went inside the building. She watched him leave before she continued handing the water to the other children. There were about 30 children living in the building, with no adult insight. She looked at her feet and wondered why hardly anyone else was there to help them.

After about a half hour most the children weren’t thirsty anymore. But it didn’t take long before a smaller child asked her for some food. Larentia sat down on the grass with the others, next to the half filled water barrel. “I guess I have something to share with you.” She said and took out the bag of dried fruit.

They calmed down, but looked at her eagerly. She opened the back and started handing then two pieces of dried fruit each. “Don’t try to take each others,” She said and looked around. “I have enough for you all and if you steal, you won’t get anything.” Some of them nodded but most of them where fixated on the bag.

It took an hour to give all of them some fruit. Some begged for more and one of them even tried to stick his own hand in the bag. Some of the older kids still tried to steal from the younger ones. But as soon as she shunpod close to any of them, they would leave the little kids alone. Only the older boy was still inside the building, without having any water nor fruit.