Higanbana (彼岸花)
Since these scarlet flowers usually bloom near cemeteries around the autumnal equinox, they are described in Chinese and Japanese translations of the Lotus Sutra as ominous flowers that grow in Diyu (also known as Hell) and guide the dead into the next reincarnation.
When the flowers of lycoris bloom, their leaves would have fallen; when their leaves grow, the flowers would have wilted. This habit gave rise to various legends. A famous one is the legend of two elves: Mañju, who guarded the flower, and Saka, who guarded the leaves. Out of curiosity, they defied their fate of guarding the herb alone, and managed to meet each other. At first sight, they fell in love with each other. God, exasperated by their waywardness, separated the miserable couple, and laid a curse on them as a punishment: the flowers of Mañju shall never meet the leaves of Saka again.
Some other legends have it that when you see someone that you may never meet again, these flowers, also called red spider lilies, would bloom along the path. Perhaps because of these sorrowful legends, Japanese people often use these flowers in funerals.
Chapter 1
Kisuke woke. The wooden ceiling of his room welcome him to the new day. Birds chirped outside and he could hear Tessai moving around in the kitchen if he concentrated.
".....I hate this ceiling."
November 5, 10:00 - Senbu - Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the after noon.
Kisuke felt an arm snake around his waist and pulled him close. He allowed his lover to shower kisses down his neck, to which he reacted with a very soft sigh. It was enjoyable, but he was not particularly in the mood for loving touches.
"Grouchy in the morning, Kisuke?" A teasing voice questioned.
"Sorry. Not interested right now."
The blonde got up from the futon and picked his robe from the peg on the empty wall. "You can get yourself out, right?"
"Don't need to worry about me, darling."
"Don't call me darling."
November 5, 14:00
He could have Jinta clean the front porch, but those kids never left it as clean as he wanted it. And it was such a nice day anyway. Costumer flow was slow but steady. He'd already planned to enjoy a bit of sake inside read a book, watch something on tv.
The usual.
Ichigo arrived on the dot after school, he could even tell that the boy had ran the whole way here, prompting a teasing smile to his face.
"Training room is at the end of the hallways. You know the way."
Ichigo grunted his thanks and slid off his shoes, turning before he continued on his way. "You're not gonna come?"
"I think you can train just fine by yourself, don't you think?" A flip of the fan made Ichigo frown again and go on his way. Teasing that boy was just too easy, not that it didn't provide Kisuke with endless amusement, but his father had been more....challenging. Or maybe at the time, he'd been the one to fluster more easily.
Kisuke shook his head, continuing to sweep with a little more strength than necessary. He hadn't thought about Isshin in a long time, his face and name had briefly flashed before him the first time he'd seen Ichigo, and again they had spoken of "official business" that time Isshin killed Grand Fisher.
From his perspective, Isshin was just as obstinate to not talk or remember their time as shinigami. Not their whole time, just the time they had been together; he knew because he spoke with Ryuuken too, and Ryuuken had spilled the whole beans of what he and Isshin talked about.
He didn't know why Ryuuken trusted him with that information, but he supposed he just didn't count as a shinigami to him.
Whatever. Isshin was old news anyway, he could care less about him and especially with the threat of Aizen breathing down on their necks. The less he had was time to think of romantic affairs.
November 6 13:30 - Butsumetsu Unlucky all day
"Remind me what you want?" Kisuke tapped his finger on his arm impatiently. The tea before them wasn't even cool enough to drink, but Kisuke wanted to end the conversation soon.
"I said, I want a gigai," Isshin replied in a serious voice.
The blonde sighed. He'd never believed in superstitions, even when his calendar had the rokuyo numbered along with the days. But having Isshin come all the way over to his shop was the worst luck he could wish for. Butsumetsu indeed.
"What's wrong with your current gigai? Is it not aging well?"
"No, it's perfect, just as you promised. But soon, I might need to fight along Ichigo...and I don't want to leave the girls defenseless...."
"So what you want is a personalized mod soul."
"And a stronger gigai if possible."
"Isshin...Ichigo is plenty strong as he is, I don't think--"
"I need it! I need it Kisuke! Please....just help me...."
It pulled his heartstrings to see such a man so devoted to his family, kneeling there in front of him, forehead pressed against the wood in the most humiliating seiza.
"Sit up Isshin....you're gonna end up with the wood printed to your forehead..."
Isshin raised his head but his eyes were still soulful and honest about his request.
".....fine. I'll call you when it's done. But it's gonna cost you."
November 8 11:45 - Shakko All day bad luck, except at the hour of the horse
Making a gigai was relatively easy, especially if he already had the mold.
Kisuke was proud to say that Isshin's gigai was perfect and the best he'd ever done. It aged accordingly and was indistinguishable from any other human.
He sighed as he checked over the new gigai again. It was a perfect clone of the man, he'd even replicated the little gray hairs that had been appearing randomly. Kisuke felt proud as a scientist.
He took out a little grin pill and popped it into the gigai's mouth. The homonculous opened his eyes and smiled. It was only a test and the mod soul barely had a personality, but it worked.
"What is your name?"
"Kurosaki Isshin. I'm a doctor working at my own clinic in Karakura Town."
Kisuke nodded, it was a satisfying result. He turned around but a hand on his wrist prevented him from walking away any further.
He turned around to look at the gigai and found Isshin's soft eyes looking at him lovingly.
"I love you."
He blinked and punched Isshin right on the stomach, making him eject the soul candy.
"Gotta fix that...."
November 9 12:30 - Sensho Good luck before noon, bad luck after noon
Kisuke was sure he'd fixed that little detail. The base for the gikongan had been his own memories of Isshin, including his secret desires...well, that was fixed now, and he'd invited Isshin to check it out. He'd dressed the gigai in some clothes he'd found and sat him up against the wall.
There he was. Asleep. Kisuke sat against the opposite wall, the gikongan safely stored in his pocket. He'd loved making both gigai and mod soul, and he'd hated making them both. Hiding them from Ichigo hadn't been easy either, damn kid was so sensitive.
Isshin arrived and he showed him the body.
"Wow! Impressive Kisuke!"
"Save your compliments for after you've tried it." Kisuke smiled and handed him the little pill.
Isshin grinned and jumped out of his body, not as violently as Ichigo. The mod soul looked confused for a second, but soon recognized both Kisuke and Isshin, grinning widely.
"Are you sure he'll act like me?"
"No one'll be the wiser. I asure you."
"And the gigai?"
"Try it out."
Isshin entered it an stood up, moving his limbs around.
"It feels tighter."
"It has enhanced strength and speed. Not too much, but just enough to be on par with Kon, let's say."
Isshin nodded and switched clothes with his clone. "I'm gonna go out, you mind?"
"Not at all, that's what it's for. Have fun."
Isshin grinned and walked out, looking as if nothing had happened.
Kisuke was just about to sigh when a pair of arms wrapped themselves around his waist, pulling him close into a deep kiss. Kisuke tried to pull away, gasping once the kiss ended.
"I want you. I want you so badly, Kisuke..."
"S-stop! You're a mod soul!"
"It's not just me! He wants you too, I can feel it in this body."
"That's....that's a lie, stop this immediately."
Kisuke pulled away and slapped his wandering hands. For a second, the other Isshin looked hurt and regretful. Kisuke frowned and walked away, leaving the faux body by himself.
He waited until he was at the very corner of the training room before crouching down to cry, crying out his heart and eyes. He couldn't believe it. A mod soul loving him. Not just that, a mod soul admitting that the body he was inhabiting loved him. He didn't want to open up his heart anymore, he didn't want to get hurt anymore. You got hurt if you were careless, and you got hurt if you trusted too much; so now Kisuke was neither careless nor trustful. He'd learned his lesson, and it still hurt.
To be continued....
Update on Friday
A/N
The Japanese calendar system consisted of seven day weeks, but in addition to that, there was another system of six days which determined the luck of each day called Rokuyo. According to this system, some days should be avoided for important events such as weddings, births, start of new businessess and such, while other would be more lucky.
The Days of RokuyoDay's Significance
先勝 – Sakigachi (also known as Senkachi or Sensho) -Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon
友引 – Tomobiki Good luck all day, except at noon
先負 – Sakimake, (also known as Senmake or Senbu) Bad luck in the morning, good luck in the afternoon
仏滅 – Butsumetsu Unlucky all day, as it is the day Buddha died
大安 – Taian 'The Day Of Great Peace', the finest day for ceremonies
赤口 – Shakku, (also known as Shakko or Jakko) Bad luck all day, except at noon
Also, I've written the hour of the horse instead of noon. The hour of the horse is from 11a.m. to 1p.m.