Name: Nagami Hôshô
Gender: Female
Age: 25-30
Looks: Short pure black hair and purple eyes. Five feet, eight inches tall with a pretty normal body shape and size.
Race: Human with a special power
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"Time!"
Nagami breathed heavily as her legs started to slow down to a light jog around the track. "Great job, Nagami. Two minutes and fifty seconds flat. Your best time yet!" her trainer Hinata exclaimed with a big smile.
"That's... great..." she breathed, coming to a halt. Nagami wiped sweat from her brow before taking a swig from her water bottle.
"We're done for the day. Don't forget that tryouts for the team is this weekend so take the next few days off."
"Yeah, I know. I'll see you then."
Nagami retreated into the locker room and jumped into a cool shower. It made her body shiver and unwind. She could feel her muscles ripple as they calmed down from the rigorous training.
The sun was starting to set in the distance as Nagami began her walk home, duffle bag slung over a shoulder. She stopped halfway to her apartment, looking to the north. She could feel something odd in the wind. It was off. The woman changed her course of direction, becoming very curious.
It was getting closer, the feeling almost overwhelming. Suddenly a monster came barreling out from around a corner, startling Nagami. She jumped back as the thing roared at her. "You're in the way," spoke a cool voice from behind. The woman's body went stiff as she looked over her shoulder, spotting a man in black with a white scarf around his neck. His jet-black hair was being held back by a white headpiece, grey eyes cold and emotionless.
He walked around Nagami, standing to face off with the monster. A sword was pulled from its sheath, being held in front of his face. "Scatter, Senbonzakura." It disappeared into a thousand bright pink petals, swarming in the air. The Hollow gave one last cry before it was sliced into many pieces. Nagami watched with wide eyes unable to believe what she just saw.
The man sheathed his weapon, attention then landing on Nagami. His eyes held mild surprise, intrigued that she could see him and the Hollow. "So, you can see me..."
"Of course I can," Nagami finally answered, trying to figure out what had just happened. "Only a blind person could not."
"Hmm..." he said, fishing into his kimono robes. "I can't exactly let you go. Not before I-"
Another Hollow roared in the air and the man looked up behind Nagami, the woman turning around. Its arm was coming down over her head so swiftly, neither could move in time, Nagami to save herself, and the man to save her.
However, in the blink of an eye Nagami was gone. He looked around, as the Hollow's hand dug into the ground. The woman stood ten feet away from where she had been. With one swift movement the Hollow was dead and the stranger walked towards her.
"How is it that you were able to move so quickly?" he asked, giving her a hard look.
"I... I couldn't help it. I'm a runner."
"Human beings can't move that quickly. And I know you are not Shinigami."
"Shini-what?"
"Not important. I still cannot allow you to leave here and remember any of this."
"Are you going to kill me?" she asked in a soft voice.
"No. Merely erase your memories." He took out an object before flashing it in front of Nagami's eyes. Everything went black.
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Nagami woke up the next morning, bolting upright in bed. She looked around, wondering how she had even got there. The only thing she could remember was that she had been walking home. Then... something came out of the streets and attacked. "Where is that man?" Nagami wondered.
He had said something about erasing her memories. But she slowly remembered everything very clearly.
Karakura Town was bustling with activity. Nagami was out running errands when it happened again. A Hollow's cry ripped through the air, followed by a child's scream. The woman wasted no time and broke out in a run. The kid was in a deserted park area, the metal structures slowly decaying and rusting. A monster was close behind him. Nagami noticed something off about the boy when realizing that his body was transparent.
"Come here!" she ordered, grabbing the child and pulling him into her chest. Nagami turned, running in the opposite direction, the Hollow close on her heels.
"Miss! Please just let me go! I don't want you to get hurt!" the boy pleaded as he clutched to her shirt.
"What, and leave you to be eaten? I think not!"
The Hollow was gaining and Nagami picked up speed. "Wow! You're fast Miss!"
Nagami chuckled lightly. "You haven't seen anything yet."
She made a sharp turn down a street, the monster slamming into a building at the sudden movement. Those on the streets cried out in surprise and fear as sections of the building came crashing to the ground. "Hold on!" Nagami ordered, closing her eyes and focusing.
Her foot touched the ground for an instant before it pushed off, throwing Nagami forward through the air. She traveled at lightning speed, so fast no one could see her.
"Whoa..." the child whispered.
Suddenly, Nagami's feet were swiped out from under her. The two slammed into the ground, the woman wrapping her body around the child so no harm came to him. They bounced and rolled across the dirt before coming to a rough halt. "Miss? Miss!" the child cried out, seeing Nagami's form lying limply on top of him. The Hollow was drawing closer. "Get up, Miss! Get up!"
Nagami stirred, before bolting up right and seeing the monster right behind them. She went to get up, only to cry out in pain. Her legs were bleeding and bruised from the violent attack, making it nearly impossible to move. Both looked up at the Hollow with wide eyes as it came in for the kill.
"Scatter, Senbonzakura."
The monster was sliced into a thousand pieces. Out of the carnage came the man from the day before. "Who is he?" the child asked.
"A friend," Nagami answered, releasing her death grip around the boy.
Their savior stopped right in front of them. "You again," he spoke without emotion as he looked down at Nagami. "What are you doing here?"
"This boy was in trouble. I had to help."
"He is a soul. How can you see or even touch him?"
"I... I don't know..."
"This child cannot stay here," he stated, taking out his sword. "I will deal with him."
"Wait-!" Nagami exclaimed, afraid for the child. However, the man merely tapped the boy on the forehead with the base of the hilt, a marking coming to the boy's head. Slowly he began to disappear.
"Thank you Miss," the boy said with a smile. "What's your name?"
"N- Nagami..."
"I'm Paku. If we ever see each other again may I run with you again?"
"Uh... of course." He then disappeared into thin air. Nagami's attention turned towards the man. "Where did he go?"
"To the Soul Society. That is where all the soul go if they are stuck in the World of the Living." He then brought up the question that had been bothering him since he saw her. "I erased your memories. How is it that we meet again like this and you remember me?"
"I remembered everything. I guess it just had no effect."
"Hmm..." He then noticed her legs. "You're injured."
"And I have tryouts tomorrow," she groaned, holding her head. "I'm so dead! All I had was riding on this! What the heck am I going to do now? Hinata will have my head!"
As Nagami continued to worry she did not notice the man walk forward. He kneeled in front of her, placing a hand over her legs. Nagami stopped talking when she realized a warm feeling and saw what the man was doing. His palm was glowing white and the woman watched as her wounds healed. She looked at him. "Who... are you...?"
He retracted his hand and stood back up. "Since erasing your memory does not work then I will not even bother. However, if you want to live a long life I advise you stop this dangerous path you are taking."
Nagami stood up, surprised. "How did you do that? You healed my wounds!" She locked eyes with him. "What's your name?"
"Byakuya... Kuchiki."
"Thank you, Byakuya Kuchiki. I am forever grateful."
"Tell me something. How does a human run that fast?" Nagami grew nervous, having been caught. "When I arrived I could barely see you until the Hollow took you out."
"I don't know... And that's the truth. I've always been able to run like that, even as a kid. It scared people, so I had to learn how to control it. That's why I'm a professional runner. I can do what I love and not get caught. The only time I use my real power is when I'm in danger."
"I suggest you stay out of the way of more people like me." Byakuya turned to leave.
"Wait!" He stopped. "I'm running tomorrow at the Karakura Race Track. If you come, I'll show you my gratitude for helping me after." Byakuya said nothing. "Please?"
"We'll see," the man answered before disappearing.
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"Next up, is the Women's Distance," the announcer spoke into the microphone. "Our very own Nagami Hôshô is racing today for her title in the Semi-Finals for the Olympic Team."
"And man it will be a show," said the second. "She's going up against Sheeta Ito and Rin Omada, two very strong runners."
"Yes, but Nagami runs like the wind itself from what I've seen in Preliminary Trials."
Nagami finished stretching before taking a sip of water. "Remember to conserve your energy till the end," Hinata spoke, pacing back and forth. "And then give it your all in the end."
"Hinata, don't you have any faith in me?" Nagami grinned at her. "When have I not listened to you?"
Hinata rolled her eyes before shooing Nagami out onto the track. Everyone took her marks at the starting line. The woman stretched one last time, looking around in the stands. She didn't see Byakuya, but thought nothing of it. He was probably busy. Eventually she would see him again one day.
"On your marks! Get set!" Nagami bent down, putting her feet against the starting blocks. "Go!"
Nagami pressed off the block running straight ahead. She started in the middle of the pack as they came around the bend. "Rin Omada is pulling ahead as the leader with Sheeta Ito right behind her. Nasuca Yama is right on their tail. Nagami Hôshô is in seventh. Don't know if she'll pull through it though. She's looking a little slow."
"Don't let her deceive you. Nagami is a hard runner. If anything she's waiting towards the end."
"Well she better pull ahead soon. Only the top three go on to the real tryouts."
Nagami breathed in deeply, closing her eyes for an instant before snapping them back open again. She pushed off the ground with more force, passing those in front of her. "Wha-? Nagami Hôshô is pulling into fifth! Now fourth! Third! Second! This girl is as quick as the wind!"
Rin was in sight and Nagami did not even spare her a look as she pulled past her. Off to the side the woman caught a glimpse of something for an instant, but she had spotted Byakuya. The woman didn't dwell on it, the finish line in sight. She picked up her speed a little bit more before going over.
"Amazing! Nagami Hôshô has set a new record in this ring for Women's Track and Field! Two minutes and fifteen seconds! That's never been heard of!"
Nagami punched her fist in the air, cheering as she jogged it off. The crowd was roaring wildly. She shook all of her competitors' hands, Rin and Sheeta going along with her, Nasuca a contender in case someone had to pull out.
"Congratulations," a voice said from behind.
Nagami turned around to see Byakuya, only he was dressed as a human and people could see him. "How...?"
"It's called a gigai. My soul controls it as if it were real."
"Oh... well let me get changed and we'll go out, okay?" He nodded before she disappeared.
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One year had passed since then and Nagami had gone on to win Gold at the Olympics. Since her leave to Greece for the games the woman had yet to see Byakuya during the competition. On top of that when she returned, the man had still not shown himself. Nagami went on with life, wondering where he had gone.
"I heard you won," a voice spoke out one day.
Nagami yelped in surprise, throwing up her hands. Dish soap sprayed everywhere, water splashing the girl. She turned, seeing Byakuya standing in the doorway to her kitchen. "Don't do that!" she yelled, cheeks flushed. Byakuya held a spark of amusement in his eyes. "You could've given me a heart attack! And where have you been?"
"I've been busy," he answered. His eyes locked on the gold metal hanging in the living room inside a glass case. "Is that what you got?"
Nagami smiled, drying her hands. "Yeah. First place. You should've seen it."
"I wish I had."
"How have you been?" she asked, walking up to him.
"Alright," he answered, looking down at her. "It's been odd not seeing you though. After all I didn't have to rush in and save you almost every day."
Her eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "Thanks a lot," she grumbled.
He chuckled lightly. "You know I speak the truth."
"Hmph, well I'll have you know I've been good this last year."
"So I see. After all you are standing here alive and unharmed."
"Is this going somewhere?"
Byakuya shook his head, reaching out and pulling her in closer. "No. I just missed you was all."
Nagami grinned, hugging him around the waist. "I missed you too."
"You being away has given me a lot of time to think, Nagami. And I've realized something."
"What?" she asked, looking back up at him.
Byakuya stroked her cheek softly. "I love you, Nagami, and I want to be with you, even if we live in two different worlds."
Nagami smiled up at him. "I love you too..." she whispered before kissing his lips tenderly.
The Captain then caught her up in his secure arms, never wanting to let go.
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