In the beginning
She said let's change our luck
This night is all that we've got
Drive fast until we crash
This dead end life
Sweet dreams that won't come true
I leave it all for you
Brick walls are closing in
Let's make
A run tonight
Everything in the Rukon districts moved the same every day. They got up each morning with the sunrise, ate a menial breakfast before slaving away for that meal and then retiring once more for the day.
This day was no different. The only exception was the intrusion upon their lives which would have been otherwise unseen had it not been for the events proceeding it.
Every morning Isshin Kurosaki awoke in attic he and his family-like crew had squatted in, just before the rest of humanity would be lying down for the night.
As they awoke for the night, he would take up the stale bread they had stolen from a dumpster and break it six ways among them, leaving after they were through to start their work for the day.
You see Isshin led a band of thieves, a group of children to be exact, all starving in the exiles of the Rukon. The shadows that they emerged from would someday release a Gin Ichimaru, but that is a different tale for another day.
This day was different.
As their day slowly came to an end, Isshin would lower the rope ladder they owned into the alleyway and would help his friends upstairs. One after another they would file in until he himself would ascend the ladder and pull it back into the window.
This day was different. As Isshin stood where he did day after day, his friends were being slaughtered, not that he knew this. All he did was stand in the same place he had for days. Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
They never came. Not even when the sun began to raise across the sky.
Blinded
By the light
Hold you through forever
Won't let you go
Isshin had been wandering the streets for hours now. He was exhausted, his feet dragging for he had been awake for over 22 hours now. His feet were blistering and his faith was failing fast.
And then the remarkable happened- he heard a woman's high pitched scream. He turned in the direction and ran through crowds of bustling common folk, emerging onto a large square where a great many people had crowded.
Isshin felt ill to his stomach. He had finally found them.
"You will pay the price for your sins!"
A burly man was standing over a pile of dead bodies beating a girl vehemently, her dark violet hair violently flying with each strike. Blood was dripping from her face and matting her hair to her face. The girl, Kirio, was shrieking hysterically now, crying for forgiveness even if her voice was failing her.
Running from the crowd, Isshin did the only thing he could think of. He punched the man square in the face, taking the much larger man down.
Kirio dropped to the ground hard and scrambled away and towards the crowd, pulling her kimono closed as she went.
The man then turned on Isshin, grappling with him to gain control as he slammed the boy repeatedly into the ground.
"Stop!" a sharp shriek echoed through the market, hushing everyone and everything which had been once hustling and bustling along.
All eyes shot to a wide eyed woman with delicately woven green and gold kimono that had launched herself from a carrier carriage. She was over dressed to be from the Rukongai, but much too delicate and beautiful to be one of the Shinigami. Her hair swept over her shoulders in long strawberry blonde wisps where it cascaded elegantly down her back.
The entire crowd which had already gathered to watch the beating the teen was about to receive dispersed as the woman approached, two more figures coming from the carriage as well to flank the young woman.
Smiling down at the young child, the woman knelt down to her level, tucking the kimono away from the dirty road before addressing the shaking girl.
A hand disappeared into her purse and pulled out a small red coin draw-stringed bag holding some coins within it from the inside fold of her haori and held it out to the girl, "Here, so your life may be more prosperous in the near future."
Quiet hands took claim of the gift as the beautiful woman was lifted from the ground and marched away like a scolded child, though the woman held herself elegantly still, even as the woman with cold steel like eyes and dark unruly hair tucked into a bun, and a swirling black symbol woven into the silver obi of her kimono hissed a curt, "Remember your place, princess."
"As long as you remember yours, Lady Shiba." Was her soft response as she disappeared into the enclosed room.
The dark haired boy rushed to his sister, drawing her into his arms as the soldiers filed in right after their princess and the crowd that had once longed for their blood dispersed.
She had been the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. She was pale and oh so lovely, with a gentility which surpassed any he had seen in any of his lifetimes.
She was everything he ever wanted, and because of the brief smile she had given him, even in passing, he was determined to meet her again.
Nothing would stop him from returning to her side once again.
Even if it meant joining the Gotei Thirteen.
'Cause if you jump I will jump too
We will fall together
From the building's ledge
Never looking back
At what
We've done
We'll say
It was love
'Cause I would die for you
On Skyway Avenue
He had fallen asleep at his desk again. Granted the position he had awoken in had little to be desired thanks to his devout underling which scurried behind him at all times trying her very best to take the utmost care of him.
A pillow that had not been present in the room when he had entered it was folded in half and wedged against his shoulder where his head had leaned deeply when he had drifted off.
Glancing downwards he took in her somewhat haggard appearance. Her lovely purple hair hung limply around her face, and she lay crumpled on the floor her mouth agape in a soft snore as her dainty hands curled in the lush carpet of the library reminding him deeply of the child he had watched grow into the woman that was before him now.
Deep, dark rings had made their presence known on her slightly sun drenched flesh, heralding of no sleep for his poor sister due to her role in the king's court.
A soft knock came from just outside the door, and the secret task force member found himself stumbling internally to get up, unable to move however as the girl had moved to cuddle his leg.
The door quietly cracked open just enough for the dark haired man to catch sight of elegant cascading orange curls and the golden and white veil and kimono that kept her the visage of beauty.
The white haori and hair pins brought out the pale complexion hiding just beyond the delicate gold veil which dangled from a crown that sat perfectly upon her soft angled face, hair wove around it and back down in the aforementioned orange waves.
Her pale, full lips drew up into a large smile as she stepped smoothly into the library, her deft hand sliding the door behind her as a look of relief set upon her face.
"It's a lovely night out, isn't it?" she smiled again meekly, moving across the room to open the back door that led out to one of the gardens outside. "I noticed the sakura blossoms falling from my room earlier, but was unable to leave until now."
"It's late, Lady Masaki. You ought to be in bed resting in preparation for tomorrow's activities."
"I'd much rather walk outside then sleep this night. Besides," she turned to regard the man with gentle eyes, "What's so important tomorrow that I indeed must be rested?"
Wide brown orbs met hers surprised, "I had thought that a few very high perspective courtiers were granted audience with you tomorrow? I thought you would be excited to be wedded to a respectable husband so soon after your coming of age."
Large golden eyes creased as a large smile spread across he farthest reaches of her skin. "What a great loss that might be. Just another courtier after my hand which will never be granted until my father's hand begins to slip. Either way, it's not my decision in the end, so what does it ever matter? I'll never be happy with anyone my heart has not accepted, and that won't occur with any of the men my father has accredited."
"And there would be any man that would satisfy a woman of your caliber? I find that hard to believe my lady."
"Thoughts often are hard to perceive, Isshin. Perhaps that is why you have always intrigued me. So, how about that walk? I promise only to go as far as the lake; it's just far out enough that I won't be overheard and close enough to see the petals scatter across the water."
Sighing, Isshin nodded his accent, moving to the sliding door and opening it wide for the princess to leave. She stepped over the threshold quietly before pausing momentarily pausing, turning to glance back at the man that was following her uneasily.
"Do you know why a butterfly is so lovely, Isshin? I'll give you a hint; it's something I have always coveted deeply."
Isshin remained silent, turning his head in the negative after a few moments before assisting her along the trail further.
"Freedom, butterflies are lovely because they have the freedom to breathe and linger, or flee as far away as they need to be happy. I am unhappy in my crystal palace, where eyes are always prying, always stealing glances but nothing more. It is one of the biggest reasons why I adore your company so much. You have always been so willing to give as much as you take."
Gently her hand touched his lips, lingering as they brushed down to pet the soft whiskers lining his chin.
Before either knew exactly what had occurred, their lips met with a hesitant brush, lingering as they shook against each others' heated flesh, before allowing themselves to crash against the other, taking in the warmth the other had to offer.
Their lips collided again and again until the ground shifted and Masaki found herself gazing lovingly up at the gentle yet hardened soldier bracing himself over her, the grass soft and wet around them creating almost a barrier from the palace. "Pleaseā¦."
Isshin drew himself over the woman, placing heated kiss after heated kiss against the pale column of her neck where her kosode had fallen open slightly.
"Please take me away from here, where it could be only you and I, free as the butterflies that flit from open palms."
"I don't know how to, Masaki. But I promise, I will make you happy, even if it ends my life."
She said don't change your mind
Let's leave this town behind
We'll race right off the cliff
They will remember this
It all got so mundane
With you I'm back again
Just take me by the hand
We're close
To the edge
Kirio drew up to her captain quietly, the sound of bells the only indication she was near before she pressed her shoulder into him.
"The young prince seems to be in a rare mood today, Shiba-sama. I beg that you stay far from him."
Glancing down at the girl he noted the way her sapphire eyes were glaring daggers towards where she had come, her hair loose down over her shoulder and the way she had been dressed in several yukata, giving her usual warrioristic look way to a more fairy tale like one.
"You look very nice today though, Kirio. Might that also be accredited to the prince's presence?"
"Hikifune-chan!" a silky voice called her from across the room. She froze, a deep chill passing through her as her captain brought his hand down on her small, fragile shoulder holding her down as the brown haired boy approached.
He had an upset air to him, like his lieutenant had left him in the midst of an argument. The boy's presence did not bode well for the actions he planed for the upcoming days, and so he unwillingly sacrificed his oldest friend for his own escape.
Bowing slightly to the boy, he immediately felt his sister freeze up, acknowledging his distance as he pulled away from her, abandoning her with the one she feared above all else.
She mewed at the loss of contact, realizing she would once again have to fend off the demon for the time being. His infatuation with her infuriated and scared her.
Despite his genuine worry for the girl, Isshin knew she could take care of herself. Either way, he had other things that had to get taken care of to deal with.
Moving swiftly through the territory, Isshin found himself traveling down the same path as the night before until he arrived at a large stone archway, heavily guarded by his own troops.
"Open the gate." Isshin ordered as he stepped up to the Senkaimon, knowing full well that he would have to hurry his business once he got to the land of the living.
Blinded
By the light
Hold you through forever
Won't let you go
'Cause if you jump I will jump too
We will fall together
From the building's ledge
Never looking back
At what
We've done
We'll say
It was love
'Cause I would die for you
On Skyway Avenue
Once in the human world, Isshin wasted no time in walking to where he was. He found himself in front of a shambled storefront and an angry noblewoman.
The woman was out of sight at first, hidden in the tree line until he stepped into the shop's yard where she intercepted him.
"Let me ease your fears. I am not here to execute you."
"Then what do you want?" Yoruichi hissed.
"I have come to seek assistance from you, Shihoin-sama." Isshin murmured as he pushed through and into the house, not allowing an instant of hesitation from the two runaways within.
The hovel was dimly lit, but from what he could see was decorated well enough for an escaped convict, surely the hand of the noble. Turning to her, he took the movement he needed to broach the subject. "You were once a member of Lady Masaki's escorts, and so you surely must have known of her unhappiness."
Looking down at her work, Yoruichi nodded silently, "There wasn't a member of squad zero nor of the detention squad that did not acknowledge that."
"I have lain with the princess, and that is our sin alone." The dark haired man admitted, head bowed down. He knew he was involving two of the worst people in his crimes, but had no choice but to move forward. "I have come to grant you both amnesties, with your assistance of course."
"Someone notified me of Urahara's actions in Soul Society- all of them. I know for a fact that he was working on a creation that enables deceased souls to inhabit a body. If you are willing to assist Masaki escape, I can promise you that neither of you will be executed for your crimes prior to this day. I am leaving instructions with a competent subordinate. "
"I'll need three days." Urahara stated, looking to Yoruichi for support. "Three days and both of your blood."
"I will have them brought to you immediately then." Isshin nodded his thanks before taking his leave.
Where are your guts to fly
Soaring through
Through the night
And if you take that last step
I'll follow you
Leave the edge
And we'll fly
We're finally alive
The days passed in a blur. The preparation for their escape was kept to a bare minimum, and the only souls that knew of their deceit were his lieutenant, Kirio, the Lady Shihoin and the man that would destroy Soul Society.
Urahara created a gigai which was untraceable, allowing Masaki to escape the control of her father unhindered. When she ran away to the human world, Isshin followed her to protect her, thinking himself in deep love with the princess.
They escaped just long enough for the situation to become permanent. When Soul Society had just been made aware of their disappearance, Masaki's reitsu had already bonded with her gigai, and Isshin was too far gone in his own gigai to be moved.
You see, while they had settled into human life, Isshin had intelligently integrated himself into important opportunities which would have led to a lot of unanswered questions should he disappear- a prestigious university where he made top grades, a hospital clerics assistant, and most importantly a loyal friend of a Quincy, whom had a deep lying hatred for the Soul Society and all the reapers that laid therein. Seireitei search in vain for the escapees, but found only whispers of their locked away spiritual pressure, forcing Soul Society to leave the two alone, thinking them too far gone to punish.
However, they left several loopholes. As Isshin had promised, the hunt for Yoruichi and Urahara ceased, for they were the trap Soul Society would keep for the two. Exiled, Urahara would have contact with Soul Society and would eventually stumble upon Isshin. Then Soul Society would be allowed to arrest the higher criminal, the one that destroyed the Spirit realm and set it aflame with chaos.
Isshin.
'Cause if you jump I will jump too
We will fall together
From the building's ledge
Never looking back
At what
We've done
We'll say
It was love
'Cause I would die for you
On Skyway Avenue
So what's left to prove
We have made it
Through
(Current Day)
Glancing over to a shadowy set of figures crouching near his window, Isshin let out a deep sigh, drawing his hair back exasperatedly, "So its time already, huh?"
The slighter of the two smiled softly, bowing her head, as she shuffled the limp frame of a young girl in her arms, "I'm afraid so."
A small smile passed his lips, as he nodded his acceptance.
"I always hopped you'd be the one to catch me. If you'll allow me enough time to explain, I'll except my fate willingly."
YAY~ Read and Review. More will be offered in upcoming chapters.
I suppose I have a bit of explaining to do in other chapters.
But first I'd like to mention a bit of background. I dislike creating new characters. All characters in this story will be from Tite Kubo's world, the first example being Kirio. She was the first captain of squad 12, Urahara's pre-successor. I won't go into too much history depth unless you, the fans, ask me to, because I realize if you're reading this you're already a fan.
The prince will be later named. However, if you feel you need to guess, go ahead in the reviews. If you're right, I'll give you props when I do name him.
EDIT 7/14: I have modded Kirio's character description. Y'welcome.
