Chapter Seven: Connecting
Yoshiro stood in his kitchen making breakfast for himself and Apacci. She was still asleep for the moment, him having woken up a bit early on his own. He figured he would do something like this for a nice surprise of sorts. Plus, it gave him more time to think alone about things from last night. He was still trying to process that he had a nine-foot-tall fox-like hollow woman living inside him.
He had accepted that she was real and all that. It was just the whole concept of the entire thing that was so weird. Not to mention he wasn't even sure who he should share this news with, if at all. He didn't mind Urahara, but there was something a tad off about him to tell him. He didn't even feel comfortable with the idea of telling Apacci, his mom, or the others as well. Hell, how would he even begin to explain this whole thing, to begin with? Yoshiro gave out a sigh as his attention was drawn to the stairs as Apacci walked down.
"Good morning," Apacci stated while giving a yawn. "cool your making breakfast."
"I woke up a bit earlier than usual and decided to do it." The blond replied as he finished up the last of the cooking.
Apacci paused and looked at Yoshiro, she noticed he seemed rather tense for some reason. "Are you, all right? You seem a bit wound up for some reason?" Apacci questioned.
"Well you know we're going to Urahara's this morning to get everything set up for my mom and the others. So, I'm a little worked up I suppose?" Yoshiro replied which was true even it was technically still a half-truth.
"I get that, but I wouldn't worry too much, I'm sure things will be just fine." The disguised Vasto Lorde mused. As she walked up behind her boyfriend and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pressed her chest against his back and laid her head on his shoulder. "I know Urahara is a little shady, but he doesn't strike me as the type to backstab the people he helps. Everything is going to be ok so try not to worry too much."
Yoshiro turned his head slightly towards Apacci. "A fair point, today is just a pretty big day is all for everyone involved. Emotions are just going to be on the rise a bit due to it all."
Apacci leaned in and gave a quick kiss to his cheek. "Things will be just fine so relax. I don't like seeing you so high-strung. It doesn't suit you at all in the slightest."
"Yes, my lady I shall follow your commands as best I can."
Apacci gave a small laugh before separating herself from him. "Damn right you will." She spoke with a smirk as she made herself a plate and walked off to eat.
"She's adorable." The fox spoke from within Yoshiro's mind.
"You know a small part of me thought that maybe last night was just a whacky dream." Yoshiro mentally retorted.
"I'm very real indeed."
"Should have figured, going back to your previous statement, yeah she is." The blond mused as he took a drink of his coffee.
"I'm sure she'll provide you plenty of kits of your own one day." The fox woman playfully chimed. Yoshiro proceeded to choke on his coffee.
"Don't you start crap too! I'm going to be getting that talk enough as it is from Isshin for years to come. I don't need you adding to it dammit!" Yoshiro retorted, his inner hollow merely giggled in response.
Ignoring his inner hollow for the moment, he made his own plate of food and made his way to the living room. Apacci was sitting and busy eating her own meal as she watched the morning news. Yoshiro decided to strike up a conversation with his inner hollow. Over a particular manner that came to mind as he began eating himself.
"I have a question if you'll indulge me?"
"Ask away kit."
"Seeing how you're permanently bound to my very soul and all that. Does that mean I can use hollow powers like what Apacci, my mom, and the others do?" Things were silent for a brief moment before the fox woman answered.
"The best way to put it would be both yes and no kit. You see hollows are spirit beings thus their powers function on a scale that pertains to that. While we are joined together you are still currently at your core, a living human. Hollows powers and other spirit powers, in general, are not meant for the living to wield. Technically as you are part hollow through me you could use some hollow abilities as you are. However, your efficiency in utilizing them would be very limited as a result. Something like Cero would be very straining and your power with it. It would only be strong enough to deal with a low-level hollow and maybe a low-ranking soul reaper. Anything more powerful and you run the risk of tearing your body apart."
Ok well, that was an unpleasant thought for sure, the blond silently mused. As his inner hollow continued on.
"Something like Sonido while not nearly as taxing, would still only be limited to a few short bursts before it would be too much. However, the ability of Pesquisa shouldn't be too hard on you, as it's a sensory ability instead of a combat one. As for something like Garganta, that is beyond you for the moment."
"Sounds like if I ever wanted to use these powers to their full extent I would need to die and become a hollow. No offense but I'm not exactly keen on that idea."
"Are you sure? With me being a part of you, you'd make for a wonderful hollow." The hollow woman jokingly suggested.
"Tempting, but I for one enjoy my life as it is too much at the moment. Though would it be possible for me to train these powers somewhat? Despite the limitation's that I'm stuck to deal with? I can't always count on Apcci to be around to keep me safe if another low-level hollow attacks me."
"I don't see why not, it would be a wise course of action."
"Cool, I know a few nice and secluded spots that should work just fine then." Yoshiro finished thinking, as he finished his food. Apacci did the same and after quickly doing the dishes, they both quickly got ready for the day ahead. Seeing how he couldn't carry everyone around on his bike, he and Apacci walked to Urahara's. After a twenty-minute walk, it was still early in the morning once the two arrived.
"Welcome Yoshiro, Apacci, everything is all set so let's head to the back," Urahara spoke as the two entered the shop and followed him to the back. Yoshiro and Apacci sat down with Urahara across from them. The black cat from the previous visits found its way over to Yoshiro and sat in the blond's lap. Yoshiro didn't question it and simply petted the cat, it purred in response.
"Apacci, if you could head to Hueco Mundo and retrieve your friends, and will wait here for you. Don't worry about being careful with the Garganta, my shop has special barriers around it. So you can use Garganta to travel from here and back without concern." Urahara explained.
Apacci nodded her head and knocked herself out of her gigai. "Be back in a few," She chimed as she took off to Hueco Mundo. Roughly ten minutes later she arrived back with Halibel, Sung-Sun, and Mila in tow.
Urahara had his fan out in front of his face and studied these three new hollow women. Just as Yoshiro and Apacci had mentioned the other three were indeed Vasto Lorde's. Getting a feel for their spiritual pressure, he figured that amongst the four of them. The shark-like woman was the strongest, with the lion-like one following, then Apacci, and the snake-like one at the end. Urahara had to admit having four individuals of such intense power right in front of him. Was a fair bit frightening even for him, even if he wasn't showing it.
"Hey mom," Yoshiro spoke as he stood up, causing the cat to trot over to Urahara. He embraced his mother with a hug, who returned the gesture.
Urahara had a genuine smile across his face at the scene. As crazy as the whole thing was, it was still fairly heartwarming all the same. "Hello there," Urahara chimed gaining everyone's attention. "My name's Kisuke Urahara, I run this humble little shop and I imagine you've been given the low-down on me. Everything is all set up and ready, so there won't be much waiting for your gigai's. Judging from what I can see, I assume you must be Yoshiro's mother, Tia Halibel?"
Halibel faced the soul reaper with some uncertainty, she had her issues with soul reapers. She was a hollow such a thing was natural, but her son and Apacci had enough trust in the shopkeeper. He had also helped the two in the past against those he once served. It was enough for her to put enough trust in the bucket-hat-wearing man for the time being.
"I am and these are my other followers Cyan Sung-Sun and Franceska Mila Rose," Halibel replied.
"Nice to meet you all," Urahara mused "everything is in place for your gigai's, all that I require from you is some of your spiritual energy." Urahara proceeded to pull out three separate vials. "Pour some of your spirit energy into these and I'll go take care of the rest." The three hollow women did as asked and handed the vials back to the shopkeeper. "Your gigai's should be ready within the hour," Urahara stated before heading to a further back room of the shop for a few minutes before returning.
Everyone was now sitting on the floor, Yoshiro in the center with his mother and then Sung-Sun to his left. Apacci who was back in her gigai and then Mila sat to the right. Leaving Urahara and the cat sitting across from them once more.
"While we're waiting, I was wondering if by chance you could answer a few questions for me miss Halibel?" Urahara asked inquisitively.
Halibel raised a brow in curiosity at that, Yoshiro was also paying a fair bit of attention. "What would those be exactly?" The shark woman asked.
"Trying to understand the reasoning why your son has such unusually high spirit energy for a human?" The soul reaper replied more seriously. "Back when you were still a human were you or your husband spiritually aware by chance?"
"No," Halibel answered "I was never spiritually aware when I was alive nor was his father Rokuro to my knowledge. If he was he kept it hidden from me during our time together."
Urahara nodded his head before asking his next question. "Did anything odd happen during your pregnancy that could explain it?"
Halibel shook her head. "None at all, I became pregnant, I carried him to term without issue. It was only when I went into labor did complications happen."
The shopkeeper sat silently in thought for a few moments before speaking his mind. "I see, I only asked because it's unusual for someone to be born with such naturally high energy. If you, his father, or some outside force had some hand in it, then it would make more sense. At this rate, I can only come to one real conclusion. That perhaps an ancestor on your side, his fathers or both. Were spiritually aware and the ability remained dormant until Yoshiro came along. Such a thing is rather rare, though not unheard of."
"I too wondered a bit about my son's unusual spiritual sensitivity. Though I wonder if the town itself has had some influence? From what I've come to understand Karakura is more spiritually sensitive than most other places." Mused the Vasto Lorde.
"That is true, but that alone wouldn't be enough."
Yoshiro meanwhile kept quiet during the whole exchange. He knew the real reason why, but he wasn't going to say at the moment. Suddenly, a bell was heard going off.
"AH! The gigai's are ready if you three could follow me." Urahara spoke up cheerily and made his way into the back once more the three women following. After about twenty minutes the group walked back in gigai's and casual street clothes. Mila and Sung-Sun didn't much seem that different from what they did when they had all their hollow features. Yoshiro couldn't help but stare a bit as his mother looked rather different.
Her body shape was no different from what she had in the photos of her back in the house. Her physical features were much different, her hair was no longer a golden blond. It was now colored a fiery red, her eyes were now violet instead of green. Her skin while still having a mocha color to it, was noticeably a few shades lighter than his own. Urahara having caught Yoshiro's inquisitive staring chose to explain.
"You're probably wondering why your mother's gigai looks so much different from how she looked like as a living human. To put it simply it's a needed safety precaution. While she hasn't been a living human for quite some time, she did live in Karakura for a fair amount of time. So there could still be people she once knew hanging around town. If they suddenly see someone they knew to be dead, suddenly back and walking around. That would cause plenty of un-needed attention and suspicion. As she currently looks, she can pass off as a friend or distant relative. I will recommend miss Halibel that you go by a different first name for added precaution."
Halibel mused to herself for a bit before speaking. "Very well then simply refer to me as 'Trianna' while in public. Also, girls refrain from addressing me as you normally do. Doing so would also cause un-needed looks and stares." The three other women simply nodded their heads in understanding.
"Well then!" Urahara chirped "Looks like your all set to go out now." The group made their way out of the shop and down the street. Urahara standing outside the shop entrance watching them walk away. Yoruichi walked up in her cat form and stopped next to him.
"So what do you think now after talking to the boy's mother?" Wondered the were-cat.
"As much as I hate to admit it, I can't help but conclude Aizen has something to do with the boy." Replied the shopkeeper.
"But why and for what purpose?" Yoruichi mused.
"I wish I had a solid idea, but I don't such as it is when dealing with Aizen."
"We most likely won't have any idea until Aizen decides to make the first move. Whatever that will entail."
Urahara gave out a tired sigh. "That fact right there Yoruichi, is what concerns me more than anything."
*Yoshiro's Group*
Yoshiro and the hollow's in disguise made their way through Karakura. The blond watched out of the corner of his eye. To see the reactions of the others as they experienced the living world for the first time in a long time. Apacci was watching too as she walked hand in hand with Yoshiro. Mila and Sung-Sun looked around with some wonder, while Halibel had a nostalgic look on her face.
"So what do you think so far?" Yoshiro called out.
"Pretty neat I can't even remember I last time I interacted with the living world like this," Mila replied
"It's certainly a nice change of pace compared to the dreariness of Hueco Mundo." Sung-Sun mused.
"Karakura hasn't seemingly changed much since I was last here." Halibel spoke "A bit disappointing, I would've figured things would be much different."
Yoshiro chuckled a little at his mother's response. "Karakura isn't like Tokyo, it doesn't need to concern itself with stuff like say. Keeping up with and constantly changing with all the latest trends and such."
Halibel nodded her head before speaking once more. "By the way Apacci I have news from Hueco Mundo. I didn't wish to say in front of the soul reaper. Odd things have been occurring apparently in Baraggan's territory lately rumor has it. No one knows for sure what exactly is happening, but he may be making a major move of sorts. When we return to Hueco Mundo, I'd like you to join us for a short time in case he does."
"Who the hell is Baraggan?" Yoshiro questioned.
"An ancient Vasto Lorde even more powerful than any of us." Mila supplied "He's caused some issues in the past with us. He's never taken a serious stance against us before, but we've always known it would be a matter of time before he did. It seems like that could finally be happening."
"There's space at the house and with your gigai's you could just live here you know?" Yoshiro suggested.
Sung-Sun shook her head. "As tempting as the offer is it wouldn't be appropriate. While having a single Vasto Lorde in disguise living here can be kept under the radar. A whole group of us is far too risky even with our disguises. Our visits should be kept to only a few days at a time."
Yoshiro went to argue but was stopped when Halibel cut in. "Sung-Sun is correct, as much as I would like to live here permanently again. It would be pushing our luck too much. Not to mention it's also a matter of safety, specifically yours. I and the others are capable of handling ourselves against the dangers that would come after us. You on the other hand are not."
Yoshiro took in a deep breath and sighed in annoyance. He hated to admit it but his mother was right. If any soul reapers came for his mom, Apacci, and the others. They would no doubt be captain-class, no way in hell would he be able to do anything against them. Even with his apparent new powers at his disposal. "I understand, I don't like it, but I understand."
"What's with all stuff being set up?" Mila asked as they continued their way through town. Seeing all the various stands being built up as they did.
"Summer festival should be starting tomorrow. I was thinking we could all go, I know we don't all have the traditional dress but it is what it is." Yoshiro replied.
"True, though I wouldn't mind getting a kimono of my own at some point." Apacci mused.
Unknown to Yoshiro and Apacci, the three behind quickly looked at one another in a silent conversation and agreement. After a few more minutes of walking, they arrived at the house. Upon entering the house and closing the door, Yoshiro noted that Mila and Sung-Sun didn't bother looking at much. They had technically been at the house once before, so it made sense. Though his mother he noticed was rooted in place, simply staring taking the sight in.
"You all right mom?"
Halibel snapped out of her slight trance at her son's question. "Yes, it's just…surreal to be back here after so long. I and your father bought this house together after we married. We lived here together for nearly seven years before my death."
"I haven't touched you and dad's room really all these years, except to keep it tidy. I don't know if there's any kind of peace you want to make about things. If there is that might be a good place to do it?" Yoshiro spoke
Halibel stood silently thinking about her son's words when she felt someone gently grip her hand. She looked to see Sung-Sun holding her hand in her own, with a small encouraging smile on her face. "Not to be too forward my lady, but I think your son is onto something. While you've hidden it well, I can tell you've had a swirling of different emotions. Since your son and what he represents re-entered your life. I believe it would be best to do as Yoshiro suggests, the rest of us will stay here till you're done."
Halibel squeezed Sung-Sun's hand gently back and gave a small smile of her own in return before letting go and heading up the stairs. Yoshiro following closely behind as they headed to the master bedroom. Halibel entered the bedroom she and her late husband once shared. Few things about it had changed from what she could recall, the only thing different. Were the numerous picture frames that were displayed on the dresser.
She examined them more closely and noticed that a few of them were of her and Rokuro. Back from their time dating and when they had first married, even some of her visibly pregnant. Then they shifted to being images of Rokuro with Yoshiro. When her son was an infant all the way up to him as a small child. The last one being one of Rokuro with Yoshiro as her son had a bright and wide smile. Judging from the photo it was of Yoshiro's birthday celebration. Halibel picked up the frame and simply stared at it in her hands.
The longer she stared the more her emotions began to swell. She felt tears begin to well up in her eyes, she pulled the picture into her chest. Then she allowed her tears to fall, and her emotion spill out. "I missed so many things…things I shouldn't have…things I should've been there for as a mother. And I missed it all…I missed it all…"
Yoshiro walked over and placed a comforting hand and his mother's shoulder. He knew that his mother coming to terms with all this would be emotional. He honestly wasn't sure what to do other than try to comfort her as he could.
Halibel felt her son try to comfort her, she put the picture down and pulled Yoshiro into a hug. She didn't like letting herself break down like this it made her feel weak. Though she knew at the same time she needed to bleed everything out in a sense. If she was ever to truly put the past behind her once and for all.
"Don't blame yourself, it's not your fault," Yoshiro spoke softly "you're here now and that's what's important."
The embrace kept up for a while longer before they separated and Halibel took a moment to dry her eyes.
"Better mom?"
"Yes, I believe so," She stated "a part of me will always hold what I had with your father and what we shared. Though at the same time I think I can, at last, be at real peace and move on."
"I'm glad and I think dad would be too. He wouldn't want you to keep yourself weighed down by the past. He'd want you to keep going forward and be happy how you wanted." Yoshiro mused.
Halibel laughed a little. "You're right, that is what he would want. Your father was that kind person. Come, we best return to the others." The two left and proceeded back downstairs. While the others didn't ask about what happened, they could tell that whatever happened. It resulted in a very positive result.
"Well then, how about some lunch then will head out and the town a little. I should have enough food laying around to make a decent lunch for the five of us." Yoshiro mused as he headed towards the kitchen.
"I shall assist you how I can," Sung-Sun announced as she joined him as the others made themselves comfy in the living room. Soon enough the aroma of food began to fill the air. As the human and hollow woman worked together.
"I won't ask what went on upstairs, it was a personal matter between mother and son." Sung-Sun suddenly said as she chopped some vegetables. "I'm glad though that whatever happened has allowed Lady Halibel to be more relaxed than she's been in a while."
Yoshiro kept cooking at the stove as he responded. "I'm glad my mother worked through things too. By the way, I noticed something earlier but didn't want to say anything at that moment, so I'll ask now. Is something going on between you and mom by chance?"
Sung-Sun stiffened a little at the question and was quiet for a few moments before she answered. "There are certain feelings shall I put between me and Lady Halibel. Though neither of us had been able to make a move one way or another. Such feelings are naturally rather alien for most hollows, it makes committing to them difficult."
The blond continued to cook as he contemplated the green-haired woman's words. "I have a suggestion if you'll indulge me?" He asked and received a nod to continue. "Thinking of my experience with Apacci, I'd say you two are just thinking too much about it. With me and Apacci, we didn't think about it so much, as we just let instinct guide us and went for it. I think that's what one of you just needs to do."
The snake-like hollow woman thought for a moment before speaking. "I suppose you make a valid point, though I feel the need to ask in return." Sung-Sun replied, "Are you really ok with the idea of me and your mother being together?"
"Sung-Sun, I'm bi-sexual and I had an actual boyfriend in the past. Not to mention one of my friends is a proud lesbian. Hell, I helped her come out of the closet even. Trust me I have no problems about you and mom being together, all that matters is that you make her happy."
Sung-Sun smiled at Yoshiro's words. "You really are a great son."
"I know, I know"
After having lunch and quickly doing the dishes the whole group headed back out into town on foot. Yoshiro made a quick stop at the bank on the way and pulled out a sizeable amount of spending money for everyone. They spent the next few hours doing activities as a group visiting various shops and whatnot. At a point, Apacci, Mila, and Sung-Sun split off to do something themselves. While Yoshiro and Halibel did their own thing for a while. The three girls returned an hour or so later carrying two large boxes but were tight-lipped on what was in them. They all found themselves at a ramen stand for dinner before making their way to the house for the night.
After tucking away everything they bought while out, the whole group gathered in the living room for a movie. After that Yoshiro and Apacci decided to head off to bed as did Mila who took one of the guest rooms. Halibel and Sung-sun chose to stay up a little longer. It was sometime later that Yoshiro had woken up and decided to go grab a quick drink before going back to bed. It was still the dead of night as he made his way down the stairs. The lights were off still except he noticed the tv was still on as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Then his eyes caught something that made him stop in his tracks.
Still on the couch were his mom and Sung-Sun and they had their lips locked together and making out. Yoshiro would've just gone back up the stairs but his more mischievous side kicked in and he couldn't resist having a little fun.
"Glad to see you took my advice to heart Sung-Sun."
The moment the two heard his voice they suddenly sported such wide-eyed shock. You'd think that all the captains from soul society had suddenly appeared in the room.
"Yoshiro!" Halibel yelled out red-faced from embarrassment and the making out.
"You know mom normally it's the parent that catches the teenager making out not the other way around." The blond spoke jokingly, he received a couch pillow to the face as a result, but it was worth it. "Just be sure to spray down the couch with the scotch guard that's under the sink before going any further." He joked once more as he quickly made his way back upstairs, dodging another pillow as he did.
The next day at breakfast things were a bit awkward, a fact that didn't go unnoticed. "Soooo, did something happen last night after going to bed?" Mila questioned. "I'm out the loop here too." Apacci chimed.
"I went downstairs for a drink and caught mom and Sung-Sun making out like a pair of horny high-schoolers," Yoshiro replied without missing a beat.
"Yoshiro!"
"That finally happened eh? I was wondering how much longer that was going to take."
"MILA!"
"About time, I was wondering if we were going to have to lock them in a room together."
"APACCI!"
"We might have gotten a little ahead of ourselves last night."
"SUNG-SUN!"
Yoshiro meanwhile couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the current situation. Halibel gave out a deep sigh at the whole situation.
"All joking aside mom, I am happy for you and Sung-Sun. You deserve to be happy with someone you want to be with."
"Thank you, son," Halibel replied before going on. "The girls have their own plans for the day, so I figured we could spend most of the day together."
"Sounds good to me mom." He simply replied and a little time later he and his mother left. Leaving the other to their own devices back at the house. They spent most of the day traveling to all sorts of different spots around town doing this and that. For them it didn't really matter what they were doing they were just enjoying the situation for what it was. By the time they arrived back at the house, the sun was starting to set.
"I wonder where the others are at?" Yoshiro mused when he walked into the house and didn't see any of the girls. His question was quickly answered when Mila and Sung-Sun came downstairs. Both had a look on their faces as if they were up to something. A fact that didn't get past the blond teen.
"Alright, what exactly are you up to?" He questioned.
"Don't worry son, you're going to like what's in store for you," Halibel replied with a tone of mischief in her voice.
Yoshiro was now very curious as to what was going on seeing how his mom was also in on it. Which meant that was one of the main reasons for her wanting him out of the house today. He received his answer when he heard someone come down the steps, revealed to be Apacci. Yoshiro's jaw nearly went through the floor when he saw her.
She was dressed in a complete kimono outfit with geta and all. The kimono itself was a striking-rich blue color that was adorned with the imagery of white and red lotus flowers. The obi she wore was a vibrant silver color that went beautifully with the rest of it. She had a touch of makeup that brought out and accentuated the delicate features of her face. Her hair on the right of her face was pinned back. While the hair on the left was styled so that it covered her eye on the same side just slightly.
Let it be known that Yoshiro had always found Apacci cute and pretty. Yes, even her real form outside her gigai was something he found cute in its own way. As she was now though, to him she was nothing short of breathtaking.
"Dear sweet kami…" He finally choked out
"I knew he would like it." Mila mused
"The work has certainly paid off." Sung-Sun chimed.
"Now he just needs to put on his own outfit for the night," Halibel spoke as she put the other large box from yesterday in her son's arms.
"Huh?" Yoshiro eloquently responded.
"Isn't it obvious?" Apacci said with a smirk as she approached. "you and I are going on a date at the festival tonight. You're holding your outfit, that me, Mila, and Sung-Sun picked out yesterday."
"What about everyone else?"
"We'll keep ourselves busy here, no worries. You two go out and have a good time together." Mila explained
"So, you best hurry and get changed," Halibel added in.
Not needing to be told twice, Yoshiro quickly took to his room to change. A short time later he came down wearing his own outfit. He was now dressed in a black and white yukata. That was covered in the imagery of the rolling waves of the sea, he also had geta sandals and a brown and grey obi.
Mila let out a whistle of approval. "Damn, you wear that well."
"Before you two leave I want to get a picture." Sung-Sun chimed as she pulled out a polaroid camera from seemingly nowhere. Yoshiro and Apacci stood together as Sung-Sun snapped a few photos. As soon enough both were headed out the door.
"Have fun tonight!" Halibel yelled out as they left, once they were gone. Halibel took one of the photos and put it in a frame she bought the day before. She placed it on the mantle in the living room before quickly going upstairs. She returned a minute with another framed photo. She placed it next to the one of Yoshiro and Apacci. The photo was of her and her late husband both dressed in traditional outfits for the same festival. When they attended it themselves all those years ago.
Yoshiro and Appaci made their way to the festival hand in hand, thankfully it wasn't a long walk to it from the house. Time seemed to fly by as they enjoyed the night and festivities it brought. Games, events, foods and so many other things. Before they even truly realized it, it was late into the night the festivities close to reaching their end. The two stood on a small grassy hilltop, looking up into the starry night sky. Then before their eyes, the night was lit ablaze by a display of fireworks.
"I never had a night like this before you know?" Apacci mused as she watched the fireworks. "Not even back in my human life I never had a night so special as this one's been. I'd probably never of too had I never met you that night on top of that rooftop. You and Lady Halibel would've never been reunited in all likely hood. Amongst plenty of other things too, I guess what I'm trying to say is," She turned to face him. "Thank You"
Yoshiro turned to face her as well, smiling as he did. "I feel like I should be thanking you, just as much if not more. I've gained a ton as well thanks to that night. More than I could've ever possibly begun to dream and I wouldn't want it any other way." Yoshiro reached out and took her hand in his and looked directly at her face. Emerald green locked with red and blue as time seemingly froze momentarily. "I know I've said this before but I'm gonna say it again anyways Apacci..." Yoshiro leaned down so his face was only inches from hers and softly spoke almost as a whisper.
"I love you."
Apacci looked back with a small smile on her own, fighting back tears of joy from spilling down her face.
"I love you too." She said back lovingly and just as softly.
Both leaned towards the other and gently and yet passionately kissed under the stary and firework-lit sky.
*Yoshiro's House*
Halibel, Mila, and Sung-Sun sat on the couch watching a movie late into the night. The three of them waiting for Apacci and Yoshiro's return, wondering how their night went. Then as if on cue the door to the house swung open, revealing a joyful and giggly couple. The blond teen and disguised hollow woman merely gave a wave hello as they quickly went upstairs to Yoshiro's room. The three women never took their eyes off the movie they were watching the whole time.
"Well, it would seem the night went even better than we had anticipated," Sung-Sun commented
"Certainly looks that way, though that now begs the question. What room in the house would be best suited to be made into a kid's playroom?" Mila spoke
"I'd say the second guest room back by the master bedroom would be suitable," Halibel answered.
"We'll need to arrange and have a short notice wedding of sorts in that case. Just so things can be as official and proper as possible." Sung-Sun chimed
"Big facts"
"Indeed"
A/N: Hello readers! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and the story thus far. This one was another fun kind of fluff chapter as well hint towards a few other things. I know nothing super exciting has happened in the last couple of chapters but don't worry! Things will be picking up next chapter when soul society shows up for certain reasons. Things will get rather rough for Yoshiro at that point and that's all I'll say for now.
Not much else to say, so stay tuned for more. In the meantime, please leave a review as they do help keep me motivated to write. Please like and fav if you have not already and stay safe, stay healthy. I'll see you next time. I'm out!