Chapter 1 Thunderly Ironic
Lightning and thunder.
It was night, the sky was black and grey, there was a small breeze traveling the streets of Karakura. No sign of any rain coming.
Only a light appeared and disappeared, followed by a defying roar. A manifestation of the universe. A powerful concept of nature.
Lightning and thunder.
Among the civilians wearing modern clothing, there was one figure standing out among them, yet nobody noticed his presence.
One long blue coat.
That was the only thing that you could say if someone asked you to describe them. You could try watching through the gap of their hood, only darkness existed. They were walking, at a very slow pace that is. Taking their time or maybe, without knowing, they were searching towards a destination, aimlessly.
Again nobody looked their way and again nature was flashing and roaring behind the figure. Letting this person chase their own shadow.
More people began to disappear, opening their doors to find comfort in the warmth that they called 'home' and 'family'. The stranger didn't stop.
Another lightning bolt. This time their shadow met another, larger than theirs. The gap of the hood turned to the origin of the large shadow. A house. Despite the loud noises thrown by nature, only one sound could be heard, louder than any other. The coat moved, slipping on the hard concrete. Through the window, they could see the source of that sound.
A mother showing love to her baby.
The figure placed themselves in front of the door on one knee. Hands came out of the coat, holding a bundle of light brown sheets enveloped by an orange aura. The bundle of sheets was placed between the stranger and the wooden door. The hands went back and retrieved what looked like a baby-sized wooden doll. It had no face, no clothes, no distinct traits, only strange black signs written at the very center of the chest of the doll.
The hands moved the doll within the bundle of brown sheets. In that single moment a bright light appeared, rivaling the lightning yet holding for much longer. The hands went back, holding nothing, within the coat, the figure stood up and the aura around the bundle of sheets slowly faded.
On the other side of the door, the mother was staring at her baby within the cradle, smiling like an idiot.
*Ding dong*
The mother looked at the door, confused. After all, who would ring at such a late hour? Nevertheless, she stood up and went for the door. She opened it and was welcome with a sound rivaling the thunder.
A cry.
At her doorstep was a baby in a bundle of sheets. Motherly instinct took over, without question she took the baby and brought it close to her arm. As she was about to close the door she looked for any sign of a person, but nothing was proving that, so she closed the door.
A few steps could be heard and a man ran down the stairs. " Who was it? " And tripped like an idiot at the sight of a baby he had never seen in his wife's arms.
" MASAKI HOW COULD YOU!? "
This same idiot got punched in the gut for his ridiculous ranting and sent to the other side of the room. " First of all it obviously isn't mine. Second of all, don't yell or your gonna- "
" WAAAAA! "
With now two babies crying, the housewife glared daggers at Isshin who held up his hands.
Masaki went to the cradle and put the new baby near hers. When she got the cloth off the baby, a small note slipped on the ground. It was Isshin who picked it up while she tried to calm both kids. Masaki looked at her husband's expression as he read it.
At first, he came off as confused. Next, he closed his eyes and was thinking while scraping the paper with his chin, a few seconds later his eyes opened and his mouth let out one sound.
" Ahhh. "
The second after his face showed fear. Worried, he gazed at her, but his fear disappeared, leaving only a serious face behind, a sight she rarely saw in those peaceful times.
" What is it? " She asked, herself worried for her child and, while not being the true mother, for the other child.
" If I had to guess, nothing right now. I just need to ask Urahara about anything new in the Soul Society. " The ex-Shinigami had a vague suspicion, but if he was correct…
She turned to the baby with no name. " Does he have a name? "
Isshin widened his eyes at her. " Do you really want to- "
" I won't leave a child in need of a family. " She cut him. In her eyes was one of the many traits he fell in love with.
Her determination to protect.
He smiled. " Guess the family grew bigger now. " He went by her side to look down on this new child of theirs. The baby slowly stopped crying as Ichigo tried to play with him. He was still a baby but the gesture was cute nonetheless.
Isshin couldn't help but laugh. " Seems Ichigo already got attached to his new brother. "
Ichigo put his tiny hand on his new brother who stopped crying completely.
" His name is… "
Outside, the lightning stopped appearing too, as if responding to something. At the front door was a small area that looked like two drops of water fell down. However, there was no rain before and no rain after that.
" Tanjiro. "
To Be Continued
