Wish 25

What are you scared of?

A minute later, Gin arrived at the house, a temporarily paralyzed Toshiro in his arms. The boy continued to glare at Gin as he opened the door to the house and entered. He walked into Toshiro's room and gently laid him down on the bed. He backed away a few steps and stared at his son for a few minutes, Toshiro glaring defiantly back.

Gin went over to the desk in the room, grabbing the chair that went with it. He picked up and walked over to the door. Toshiro watched his movements the best he could. Gin set the chair down backwards against the door, the back facing the room. He sat in the chair backwards, resting his head on the top of it.

Five minutes later, the chains broke and the paralysis lifted from Toshiro. He continued to lay on the bed though, just glaring at his 'father'. Ten minutes of silence went by. Then another five minutes.

"What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to punish me?" Toshiro asked, apparently calm.

"Normally I would punish ya, but I just can't bring myself to do it this time." Gin replied sadly.

"Why?" Toshiro questioned, turning his head to look in the opposite direction. "I was bad, wasn't I?" Gin was silent for a couple of minutes.

"Yeah." he replied. "That wasn't you though."

"What do you mean that wasn't me? Of course it was me." Toshiro said sitting up and leaning against the backboard of the bed, still refusing to look at Gin.

"It was you, but you were scared of something." Gin explained. Toshiro's head snapped up, looking at Gin with slightly wide eyes.

"Scared of what?" he asked.

"I don't know." Gin responded, shrugging. "You tell me."

"I wasn't scared. Even if I was scared of something, why would I tell you?" Toshiro bit out.

" 'Cause I'm your oto-san." Gin said simply. Toshiro bit his lip, remaining silent. He pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them.

"You're not my chichi." Toshiro finally replied. Gin remained silent before sighing.

"What can I do to prove to you that I'm your oto-san?" he inquired.

"I don't want a chichi. I don't need one either." Toshiro said a little loudly.

"Everyone needs an oto-san, Toshiro." Gin said. "Why don't you want one?"

"They didn't want me, so I don't want them." Toshiro said bitterly, closing his eyes.

"Toshiro... Who wouldn't want you? You're one of the best kids in the world." Gin said, moving towards his son.

"Stay away!" the boy shouted, opening his eyes only to narrow them.

"I can't do that Toshiro." Gin said sitting down on the bed.

"No one wanted me. I'm a freak, so they let me die! Even the villagers didn't want me around! The only one who wanted me was Granny! She's the only one that cares! Not even Hinamori wants me around!" Toshiro shouted, moving as far away from Gin as he could on the bed. That didn't stop Gin from reaching out to him. Toshiro kicked, not wanting the man to come any closer. Gin caught one of his ankles though and gave in a tug, pulling the boy towards him.

"No! No! Don't touch me!" Toshiro shouted, still fighting. Gin wrapped his arms around Toshiro's midsection and brought him close, hugging him from behind.

"No! Stop!" Toshiro demanded. Gin continued to embrace him, not letting go.

"What are you scared of, Toshiro?" Gin asked. Toshiro gave no reply, continuing to struggle against Gin's firm grip.

"Are you scared to have an oto-san and oka-san?" Gin inquired. Toshiro still didn't respond, struggling harder.

"Are you...afraid of being rejected?" Gin finally asked. Toshiro froze for a minute before fighting as much as he could, letting out a strangled cry in the process.

'Master, please. Calm down. This has gone on for long enough. You have been throwing a fit for over an hour now. Please stop.' Hyorinmaru pleaded with his master. Toshiro ignored him. Gin held Toshiro, waiting for him to calm down. He calmed down forty-five minutes later. Toshiro was panting, a few tears escaping his eyes. He rubbed at them furiously, trying to make them stop.

"You'll hurt your eyes if you keep doing that." Gin said, pulling Toshiro's hands away from his eyes with one hand. The boy bit his lip, turning his head to the side. Gin moved his head to that side also, trying to look his son in the eye. Toshiro moved his head to the other side. Gin also moved his head to the other side. Toshiro let his head sag down. Gin placed his head on top of Toshiro's.

"You done now?" Gin asked quietly. Toshiro let the top of his head fall back and hit Gin's chest. He looked up at Gin and Gin looked down at him.

"You really think you're my chichi, don't you." Toshiro stated.

"I don't think so, I know so." Gin stated. Toshiro studied Gin's open eyes.

'He truly believes that I'm his son. His eyes have that determined look in them that Matsumoto says I get when my mind is set on something. I guess it might be possible. No, what am I thinking. I can't have parents.' Toshiro thought. He closed his eyes and continued to lay against Gin. He snapped them open though when he heard his stomach growl. Gin chuckled when he heard it.

"Are you hungry, Shiro-chan?" Gin asked smiling at him. Toshiro shrugged his shoulders, blushing.

"We can have dinner now, if you want." Gin said. Toshiro nodded his head and Gin released him, allowing him to stand up. He walked to the door and turned around, waiting for Gin.

"Are you sorry for tearing up my office?" Gin asked, still sitting on the bed.

"Not really." Toshiro said, lightly kicking the desk chair in boredom.

"Ah. Well, at least you're honest." Gin said standing up. He walked over to the chair and pushed it aside, opening the door. He walked through and Toshiro followed. They made their way to the kitchen.

"What would you like to eat?" Gin asked, leaning against the counter.

"Rice and curry." Toshiro said.

"We had that a couple of nights ago though. How about something else?" Gin said frowning a little.

"Chicken yakitori." Toshiro responded after thinking for a minute.

"We don't have a grill here, but we can cook it on the stove and it tastes just as good." Gin replied.

"That's fine." Toshiro said sitting at the table.

"We need something besides yakitori though. How about some miso soup, rice, and some green beans?" Gin asked, moving to get a pan.

"Whatever you want." Toshiro said laying his head down on the table. After Gin finished laying everything out that he needed, Toshiro asked, "Can I help?"

Gin glanced at him briefly from the corner of his eyes. "Normally I'd say yes, but this time I'm going to say no." he said, preparing the miso soup.

"Why not? You let me help on Monday." Toshiro asked.

"And how did that end, Toshiro?" Gin asked. Toshiro didn't respond, burying his head in his arms.

"You ended up stabbing yourself." Gin answered his own question.

"Let me boil the rice than." Toshiro said lifting his head.

"You might try to burn yourself though." Gin replied, placing the soup on the stove to simmer.

"What can I do than?" Toshiro asked a bit miffed.

"You can sit at the table and not move." Gin said, moving on to the green beans. Toshiro sighed and laid his head back down on the table, watching Gin as he cooked.