A/N: Story begins around 90 years before Ichigo meets Rukia. Trying to fit with the canon so it will obviously feature some spoilers (shikai, bankai, character relations, main plot point about Aizen, maybe others), and I will not use Japanese introductions (i.e. first name before last, no honorifics) or accent marks (yet). My character names mean nothing, zanpakuto names being the obvious exception. Feel free to mention it to me if I did something wrong with character names or zanpakuto names, and especially if something I write doesn't match the canon. For those who care, I also won't pair any canon characters with my OCs or with other characters (not to say there won't be suggested interests… because Soi Fon, Rangiku and Kyoraku exist). I don't own Bleach or any of the characters that come from Tite Kubo. A/N over.
32nd district in east Rukongai, the day had barely started, but Takeshi Mori already felt like crap. He couldn't quite place it, but something was off, making him feel worlds away. The boy had barely met up with his friends, but even they could tell he wasn't himself. "Are you feeling alright, Takeshi? It's been an hour but you haven't said anything about how I look." He looked down into Akari's bright red eyes from where he was standing next to the bench.
"Yeah, usually you'd have hit on her at least a dozen times by now," Kaito added, scratching his short, dirty blonde hair. "What happened to our douche?"
He looked away from the girl's striking, white hair and smiled instinctually. "Sorry beautiful, I don't think I got enough sleep last night or something. After we screwed around yesterday, Dad got on me about practicing kendo." He swished his black hair, hoping doing so would help him stay grounded in reality, but his thoughts dragged him away as he thought about how the adults around here would react to Kaito's language. His vocabulary was certainly colorful, but he doubted they would appreciate that the way he and Akari do.
"What's up with him? He's staring into space again," Kaito blurted out, unheard by Takeshi.
"We had him for a second, but maybe he just doesn't feel like playing today." The albino girl didn't care much for Takeshi's prepubescent flirting, but loved staring into his ice blue eyes. "Hey d'you even know what a douche is?"
"It's an insult." She sighed as she wondered whether he should be considered ignorant or ahead for his age. His plain, green eyes seemed full of arrogance now, but she was really hoping that these two would grow up to be the kind, mature soul reapers their parents all imagined them to become someday. After all, these three showed promise.
Kaito then shoved Takeshi into the wall he was leaning against to get his attention. "Hey, do you think your dad would let us play with his wooden swords?" He asked, suddenly eager for something to happen, having grown bored with insulting Takeshi.
"Sure, as long as we actually spar and call them bokuto." His smile was something he shared freely, when he could think to do so. He liked smiling, even though he knew it to be strange more often than true or proper, because he found it helped convince others to do the same. "Let's go!"
"Damn, I'd rather just beat you over the head. And who the hell said you could lead?!" Akari giggled at Kaito's irritation, though she knew he was all too serious, and Takeshi would let him get a lot of blows if she weren't there to encourage actual competition. She sighed, as she realized they'd likely not be friends if not for her.
They weren't far from Takeshi's house, and when they arrived, they found the house empty. They snuck around the house and entered through the back as always. Takeshi's father trusted him, likely more than he should, so none of the practice weapons, or real ones for that matter, were hidden or locked up. The kids picked out a few bokuto, and started sparring. As usual, Takeshi and Kaito were well matched. Akari, however, beat Takeshi and lost to Kaito, with Takeshi being the only one who noticed his easing up for her, as Akari just enjoyed winning and Kaito kept busy criticizing him for losing to a girl. They're only eight after all. Or are they nine? Takeshi felt himself getting lost again, as screams pierced the air.
The three immediately ran to the window, and saw ruffians parading the streets, killing and pillaging as they went. Akari started to scream as a couple came towards the house, but Kaito silenced her.
"Shh. We need to grab some swords and hide." Both of the others were dumbstruck by the situation and the bloodshed, and couldn't think to do anything but what Kaito said. He was always rational, if blunt. The men, from one of the outer districts, were already breaking through the door, so the kids ran into the kitchen, and armed themselves near the door.
"Kill anyone inside, take any money and valuables. Maybe we could end up buying our way into a better district, eh?" The slender man spoke coldly, clutching his katana casually.
His larger companion spoke out, concerned. "Wait, what if they're just kids, y'know? I like their big eyes." He rolled his cleaver in his hand as he looked down.
"That kinda thought'll get ya killed. Don't think twice, we need outta here before any soul reapers get here. Get lootin'." And with that the two split up, with the lighter of the two heading to the dojo, and the heavier heading for… the kitchen. Of course, Kaito thought cynically.
As the man made his way into the kitchen, he was attacked by the two boys, with Kaito lopping off his right arm, and Takeshi slicing his chest open. Akari just gasped and stepped back in horror, as Kaito administered the final blow in a desperate bid to silence the man's screams. Takeshi stepped back in disgust, uncomfortable with how it felt to feel his blade slice flesh. Kaito yelled at Akari as he heard the slender intruder running their way. "RUN!"
As he yelled, the man came running through the doorway, kicking Takeshi into the table as the boy raised his sword, leaving him unconscious. Takeshi attacked him, only to have his sword batted away and get punched in the gut, falling against the wall. The man then proceeded to stab him in his shoulder, and twist the blade a little, muttering to himself. "Fuckin' told that idiot. Maybe I jinxed him?" Takeshi screamed out in pain, wondering where the hell Akari was.
Seemingly on cue, Akari came running out from the corner of the room, tears in her eyes, and slammed her blade into the man's right shoulder. He screamed as his arm reeled back , dangling, while Akari fell to the ground, dropping her katana, and vomited, dirtying the man's feet more as he stepped back towards the doorway. Regaining his balance and resisting the pain in his damaged shoulder, the man proceeded to kick at Akari, pushing her closer to the table.
Takeshi, with the blade having dropped from his shoulder, was in such pain he could only watch and hold back his tears. It took all he could do to stand up, and even then, he only felt a few things. All extreme. Pain. Fear. Anger. And…
POWER.
He hardly felt the pain anymore, he just started charging the man, barely aware of his feet moving. Of grabbing his asauchi off the ground. Of his sword arm outstretching. Of the asauchi changing form in his hand. Of the words escaping his lips, words he wasn't able to understand. "Change, Kurosawa (Black Swamp)."
The burglar felt the stab into his back at the same time he heard the words. But the steel, though definitely cold metal, felt odd, moving as though it was alive, and he could barely manage to look down at the tip of it protruding from his abdomen. The ninjato blade sticking out was pitch black, but it hardly seemed to stay still. Seemingly amorphous, the blade moved like a flame, leaving one to wonder which side was the edge, if there was one. He could feel his life, or his very soul draining away, seemingly in the opposite direction of the outward-spreading blood.
A man brought himself into the room using shunpo, and the first thing he saw was the small, black blade flaring up around the wound as the man seemingly faded out of existence. Takeshi fell to the ground, unconscious, leaving the man practically alone in the room. "Hoo, boy, and 'ere I thought, when I felt that spike of spiritual pressure, I might find a rogue soul reaper. That'd probably be relaxing, compared to this." The man looked around the room with his narrow eyes, and decided to evacuate the children, in case they could be saved. He found the situation to be grim, but just his kind of interesting.
Kaito was the first to wake up, being careful not to move much as he did so. He had already imagined a worst-case scenario or two. He quickly noticed the others in their beds, Akari next to him, and Takeshi across from them. He didn't see anyone else in the room, and decided to check his wounds. Nothing major. He got up, with the intention of finding out what was going on.
"Oh, good. Yer awake. That'll help questioning." Kaito turned to look at the man who had come into the room so quietly. The shihakusho he wore instilled trust and curiosity, but his expression kept the boy feeling on guard.
"Who the hell are you, where am I, and why are you here?" Kaito spoke quickly and decisively, causing the man to tilt his head confusedly.
"Eh? Hmmm… S'pose there's nothing to hide. But'chya have to answer my questions next. I'm Gin Ichimaru, lieutenant of 5th squad, yer at my squad barracks in the Seireitei where a coupl'a my subordinates who used to be from 4th squad will be taking care of your wounds, and where you'll be staying until your parents can get you. An' I'm here to figure out who yer guys' parents are. And 'cause I found what I saw walking into your house… intriguing. M'kay?" Gin turned his head again.
"What do you mean intriguing?"
"Mostly the dead guys."
"Guys? Plural? Um, that wasn't my house, it was Takeshi's. Get to your questions, then leave," he spoke roughly, delighting Gin, and made a shooing motion. He couldn't help wondering what happened while he was out.
"Sure, now, yer name is?"
Akari woke up mere minutes after Gin left, and Kaito briefed her on what he knew. The two grew concerned as Takeshi didn't wake up for hours. Even after they were brought breakfast, it took him another couple of hours to wake up. He was briefed, though he said nothing of what happened to him, or of the dagger he found sitting next to him, the same one he killed the intruder with, though it was in a sealed state now. Gin came in a few hours later, with lunch, but without his usual smile.
"Kids, bad news, yer parents were found. Aaaaaaan' they're dead." He blurted out as the woman with him put their lunches in front of them.
"Captain! I told you to let me tell them if you weren't going to be gentle," she yelled, as Akari burst into tears, and Takeshi began to cuss loudly. Kaito looked down solemnly as Gin opened his eyes wide and rubbed the back of his neck, looking comedically guilty. The girl left on order, told to not mention the situation to Aizen, and Gin stood there until Takeshi and Akari quieted.
"So, I know this's hard, but I'ma be taking care of you kids from now on. Sorry for yer losses, but I think I might could use yer guys' help. I'll be here if you guys have questions, but I have one question that's kinda urgent." He looked towards Takeshi, who was shuddering. "Where'd ya get a zanpakuto?"
Kaito immediately looked up with great interest, and Akari wiped her eyes as best she could, letting out a confused "Hunh?" Takeshi looked away, unsure how to answer.
"I dunno… it just… happened… while I fought that guy. I said those words and… is that really what this is? A zanpakuto?" He pulled out the dagger as he spoke of it.
Kaito cursed Takeshi under his breath, staring in amazement. Akari just laid her head back down, feeling overwhelmed. Gin turned away, muttering to himself. "Definitely got potential, but these kids make me feel like I got questions more than answers." Gin sighed, frowning as he turned the corner. "Maybe I could get Rangiku to help out?"
Three days later, the three kids were healed up and had worked out most of their problems. Takeshi was still solemn, and Akari was depressed, but they had all gotten over the surprises, and had agreed to let Gin train them to be soul reapers. Gin came in to see them, and, he hoped, to quietly sneak them back to his place.
"Heya kids. Feelin' better?" He knew the answer walking in. Takeshi was joking with Akari, and Kaito was practicing kendo. It's not hard to notice improvements when they were absolute train wrecks just two days ago. The three all came over to him, expecting some more news. "So… um... woah, hey I jus' looked at you close, Akari, and what's up with your whole… hair... and eyes... and pale skin?"
"I'm albino. It-"
Kaito butt in sharply, "what's up with your hair and eyes and pale skin, huh Mr. Squinty Silver? Open your eyes!"
Gin laughed aloud and avoided the question. "Sorry, sorry. So I'ma be taking you kids to my house now, and we'll start some training. Soon you kids'll probably be in the Academy."
"You're gonna make us soul reapers?" Takeshi had known he wouldn't have much of a choice, but he hadn't thought about Kaito or Akari.
"Well o'course. You've already got a zanpakuto, and they have some decent reiryoku. You guys need training if yer gonna be of any help. So, ready t'go?"
The answer was seemingly the only one they had. They felt that Gin was hiding something from them, but they had no better options. They left with him, having already accepted that the lives they knew were gone.
A/N: Takeshi, Kaito, and Akari are all my OC's, and Kurosawa is my original zanpakuto. Don't worry about Takeshi's flirty nature, he will get turned down by non-OC's. I stick to my word, after all. Reviews are appreciated and encouraged, especially with advice (like if I botch some Japanese). Thanks to Warrior of the Stars for beta reading.