"Servant of Monsters"
Chapter 1 - Farewells
HELP NEEDED!
A welcoming family searches for a reliable, hard-working servant. No special talents needed, everything will be shown in the workplace. Good attitude highly appreciated!
Attractive salary + bonuses. Needed 24/7, accommodation and food provided.
Job given immediately.
Contact: Kurosaki Mansion, Karakura, tel.:XXXXXXXXXXX
"Here." A middle-aged man tossed the job advertisement in front of a young boy. With a groan, light-skinned hand grabbed the leaflet. Aquamarine eyes scanned each word carefully, slowly widening at rather short and unclear ad.
"A servant?" He asked. "After attending college and receiving a Master Degree in Sociology – all I can become is a servant?" The man huffed and sat in front of boy, scratching his head in thought.
"You've been looking for a job for over 2 months, Kaien. Nobody needs a sociologist." The man put his hand reassuringly. "I'm really sorry, I tried to ask everybody." Kaien shook his head in disappointment. "Besides, your mom is delivering a baby next month, Kuukaku and Ganjyu still have to finish their school. This job would be perfect – you'd be able to live on your own!"
"On my own?" The younger quirked his brow. "Dad, I'll be living as a servant in somebody's house! That's not 'living on your own'!" He threw away the paper sheet and stood up. Walking in circles, he was intensively thinking about other possibilities. Unfortunately, the village Koifuku, his family's hometown, was really far away from any big cities. Shiba family wasn't too wealthy – they owned a small land, where they grew crops. However, the oldest Shiba couldn't take care of his land on his own and his oldest son, Kaien, was a very bright boy. Mr Shiba didn't want to stop his son's potential. He even found enough funds to send Kaien to college. However, the boy didn't know what he was supposed to study.
Kaien was an open-minded, social person with natural talent to get along with everybody. He was a hard-worker, because each time he visited his family, he grabbed tools and helped his father. Nowadays, everything has been automatized and Mr Shiba didn't need anybody to work physically.
Kaien was also very dedicated to his two young siblings – 14-year-old Kuukaku and 12-year-old Ganjyu. Both of them were adolescents and were dealing with hard world of teenage days. Soon, the Shiba family would be bigger by a new member. A small house with 3 rooms wasn't comfortable for everybody.
"Please, Kaien, just give it a try." Mr Shiba smiled insecurely. The boy sighed. "You can look for another job later, but for now this is the best opportunity." Kaien reached for the abandoned piece of paper. He loved his family and he knew he had been a burden for them over past months. Without further complaints, he walked to the phone and dialed the number.
Welcome!
You reached the Kurosaki Mansion home number!
If you need an immediate medical attention at the Kurosaki's Clinic, press 1.
If you want to offer new medical supplies, press 2.
If you want to discuss the preparations for the Haunted Festival, press 3.
If you call for tutoring in swordsmanship, press 4.
If you call for tutoring in arts and crafts, press 5.
If you want to make an appointment with a psychotherapist, press-
Kaien's eyes widened. Just where the hell am I phoning? He waited until some more ridiculous options appeared.
…
If you apply for a job, press #.
Finally... Kaien quickly pressed '#' on his phone. To his dismay, another automatic secretary answered.
Future employee – congratulations for being the first to answer the leaflet! This is your lucky day!
Choosing this option means you have made a decision about applying for the seat of a personal servant for the Kurosaki Mansion. By the end of this call you are going to be officially employed. The number you have used is now automatically registered in the data bank of the Kurosaki Family.
Please state your name...
During the strange speech, Kaien was completely dumbfounded. If he understood correctly, he was just given the job by hand. Don't they need to see me first or see my education, my references? His brain froze.
Please state your name...
"Shiba Kaien." He answered quickly when the secretary repeated the order. After three beeps, the robotic voice appeared again.
Please state your age...
"Um... 23?" Another beeping.
Please state your current location...
"Village Koifuku, house number 89."
This time the signal was longer. In the end, a strange, happily-tuned melody played in the receiver.
All info needed have been received! The Kurosaki Mansion asks you to prepare your personal belongings in time of 30 minutes. The Mansion's representative will drive to the given destination and transport you to your workplace.
Thank you for your time and we are looking forward to cooperating with you!
Yours truly – The Kurosakis!
Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep.
"So, son, how did it go?" Mr Shiba shook Kaien's shoulder, trying to snap him out of trance. The boy shook his head, eyes finally blinking with consciousness.
"Aaah, yeah, I got the job." His father smiled brightly and patted the other's back proudly. "But I have to pack myself. I'm leaving now."
"Now?" The older man was surprised.
"In 30 minutes." The head of Shiba family nodded in understanding and called everybody to help Kaien with his departure. Mrs Shiba furiously prepared lots of sandwiches and canned food. Both younger siblings took out luggage bags and helped their big brother put in his clothes.
25 minutes later, everything was prepared and whole family was sitting in front of the Shiba house.
"Have you got your pyjamas?" Kaien's mom went through his stuff.
"Yeah."
"And hygiene products?"
"All in the white box, ma'."
"Are you taking Bonnie-chan with you, Onii-san?" Kaien's baby brother, Ganjyu, hugged his waist and asked with teary eyes.
"I have her with me, don't worry." Kaien smiled brightly and took out a small plushie of a brown piglet, wrapped in silk red ribbon. Kaien received this gift from his small siblings when he got into the college. Since then, he never parted with the stuffed animal. "Now, Ganjyu, I have something very important to tell you." He knelt in front of the small boy, seriousness written all over his face. "Soon, mommy will bring a new little brother. I want you to guide that little man, be a figure to him and love him just as much as I love you and your sister." He hugged his weeping brother. Kuukaku pouted, feeling left out. "As for you, Kuukaku, stay out of firecrackers, okay?" He smirked evilly, pleased that his sister became angry.
"Why does Ganjyu get all the caring and I get all the lectures!?" She stomped her feet, but Kaien only laughed. He embraced her lovingly.
"You know I have nothing to worry about with you, Kuu-chan." The girl humpfed, but stopped her tough act and embraced her older brother tightly. "Keep an eye on your brothers."
"Aye aye, sir!" She laughed as well and kissed her brother's cheek. After saying all farewells, Mr Shiba noticed a black car driving from the distance and slowly closing to the house. Here comes my employment... The car stopped in front of the family. Out of it came a tall man, wearing black torn jacket. His long, non-shaved face was partially covered by big, orange glasses. The wind blew at man's appearance, messing with long, brown strands of thin hair. Kaien could hear frogs croaking in the distance of his mind. The first impression of the Kurosaki representative... was creepy.
"Thou shall be Shiba Kaien?" Old-fashioned way of speech confused the boy even more. Carefully, Kaien nodded. "Is this thy possession?" The man pointed a Kaien's small, blue bag, loosely hanging on his arm. Kaien packed there some books and magazines, Bonnie, photos, pens and his wallet.
"Um, yeah, also the luggage here..."
"Unnecessary nuisances shall not be accepted into the Mansion."
"Huh?" Kaien blinked in awe. "B-But those are my things! Clothes, food!"
"Thou shall be provided with trivias at the destination." He turned to look at his parents. They were pretty shocked themselves. What should I do? He telepathically sent them a question. Mother shrugged her shoulders. Dad only scratched his head. Goddammit... Kaien turned to the strange man. "Are the preparations complete? Shall thou proceed to the vehicle?"
"I-I guess." Kaien turned to his family for the last time. "I'll see you soon, guys. Take care of my stuff, okay?" Whole family roared their goodbyes as Kaien entered the black car. The man started off. Suddenly, whole view of Koifuku left Kaien's sea eyes. Sighing, he already missed the place. The brown-haired man was driving silently. That made Kaien feel uncomfortable. "Eee..." He tried to begin a conversation. "So... Mr...?" The drivier didn't bat an eye. "E-Excuse me, Mr..."
"Thou be bothered?" The man spoke suddenly. It almost gave the younger male a heart attack.
"I-I mean, I don't know your name."
"Zangetsu. Tensa. Tensa Zangetsu." Each word was spoken with suspicious pauses.
"So, Tensa-san..." Kaien still wanted to talk. "Now that I'm going to live there, can you tell me something about the Kurosaki family?"
"Thou shall be provided with important information at the destination."
"Oh, I see..." Less and less Kaien liked his decision of working with the mysterious family. He took a deep breath and tried something else. "Umm... What about you, Tensa-san? Do you work for the Kurosaki family?"
"Correct." This time the boy received SOME information.
"Oh, what do you do?"
"Thou shall be provided with important information at the destination." Kaien's head dropped in defeat. No, I'm not going to give up so easily! He shook his head and tried for the third time.
"Umm... What responsibilities as a serv-"
"Thou shall be provided with important information at the destination." Zangetsu didn't even let Kaien finish his question. No... I give up... He crossed his arms and looked outside of the window. The picturesque landscapes were passing in front of his eyes. The land was a lot more colorful, with fields of violet heathers in full bloom and distant trees, which were changing their green colors into rich shades of yellow, orange, red and brown. Kaien sighed at the view, mentally praising the wonder of autumn.
Note!
Hi there guys :)
It's been some time...
I dunno how many old watchers/readers are in here now, but surely we grew up after this time, eh?
Reality is pretty cruel, especially when you have everything on your own, but... It may not be that bad ;)
I sometimes write lots of drabbles myself, though they are pretty short, not really worth posting.
I have been looking through some of my old stuff and this story has been found!
It's kind of like 3-4 years old, one of my longer drabbles. It had almost 25 pages, so it should last for about 7 chapters?
Later we will see if something new will come up... Let's say that this was a really unorthodox concept of story with some Bleach characters.
Of course, I made Ichigo and Kaien my favourite 3
Tell me if you like it, I'll post all chapters in the meantime.