Chapter 11
Akihiko laid there staring at the tan ceiling of his bedroom. It was still dark, but the sun would be coming up shortly.
He had tossed and turned all night. What he had been told replayed in his mind over and over. Then there was also the pure terror that Ichigo showed. He had never seen Ichigo like that before. There was no way to help him with all of that pain. And he so badly wished he could.
Ichigo was so broken. He couldn't even face his own memories properly. Whatever that had happened to him is effecting him now. He didn't know what to do with Ichigo anymore. The boy is going to be staying here until the gathering, but what will happen next? If Ichigo stayed what would he do here? He would first need to be adopted into the clan. That would take a while.
Running a calloused hand over his face to rid himself of the tiredness and stress because of yesterday. He needed to talk to Ichigo and soon about what happened yesterday. Maybe before breakfast. That way it would only be between the both of them.
He sat up in his maroon colored futon, got up, and changed into a clean, deep blue yukata that matched the color of his eyes. Giving another sigh as he tightened his yukata, he thought of what questions to ask but quickly gave up. There were just too many questions.
If he couldn't sleep, he might as well do paperwork. Walking past Ichigo's room, he opened the door just a crack to peak in. He was surprised to see that Kameko was with Ichigo. Grandmother must have snuck her into his room. Ichigo protectively slept with her fully enclosed in his arms. He sighed. He needed to get this over with if he could make any possible plans for the future. Both of them needed to seriously talk.
Stepping into the room, he sat down beside Ichigo's futon. He thought about what he would ask, when Ichigo woke.
It didn't take even five minutes before Ichigo awoke. He sat there waiting until Ichigo sat up himself. His blind eyes gazing at him. Showing slight distrust, but curiosity more than anything. Kameko was nestled in his arms. She was adorable, and he wanted to cuddle her. Her hair all tousled, the pink sleepwear, and how she gave a cute yawn before snuggling closer to Ichigo.
He shook his head. There were more pressing matters to deal with. Like the guilt that had grown in him since yesterday. Might as well get this over with. He bowed in the geiza position. His forehead smacking the wood floor.
"Ichigo, I want to properly apologize. After what happened yesterday, you were in a daze after the incident in the hot springs and started talking. You assumed I was someone by the name of Zangetsu, and I went along with it. You told me some personal and painful history, and I asked without you truly knowing it was me. I am so sorry. I didn't mean to pry without your permission. I beg you for your forgiveness." Ichigo just sat there quietly for a while. What if he didn't forgive him? What if Ichigo left because of this? What if…? So many questions, his head was beginning to hurt. He was starting to sweat, when Ichigo spoke.
"No Akihiko-san, I should be the one apologizing. You take me into your home without any knowledge of who I am, or what my background is, and yet you still decide not to pry. What happened yesterday between you and me has helped me come to terms with some of my past. I'm sorry that I can't tell you yet. If I decide to stay with you, I promise that I will tell you. Maybe not now, but I will one day." He smiled and sat up from his geiza position. It was more than he could ask for. This was the most he has heard Ichigo ever say before.
"Thank you Ichigo. I promise that I will not do anything like that again. If you don't mind, would you please tell me why you acted like that? Can you also tell me what happened yesterday at the hot springs?" He had the feeling that what he asked might have answers he wouldn't want to hear. If he had known where this conversation would lead, he would have never asked.
Ichigo gave a small dip of his head and closed his blind eyes. His orange hair sliding down his shoulder, a bright contrast to the white yukata he was wearing.
"Of course, It's the least I can do. Considering all the trouble that seems to find me." Akihiko raised an eyebrow at that statement, but did not interrupt. Ichigo gave a short pause to gather his thoughts. "Okay, so I was in the hot springs after playing with Kameko all day. I had let myself doze off a bit, and I awoke to someone pinning me under the water. Not letting myself drown without a fight, I struggled and managed to latch onto my attacker. I tossed them across to the other side of the hot spring. I got out of the spring and looked for my blade. I had left it beside me, but the attacker had kicked it towards the hot spring wall. There I held the blade defensively in front of me, waiting for the attacker to attack again, where he then impaled himself on my blade." He sighed and ran a hand through his long locks, trying to even out his breathing. "The way I reacted yesterday was because I've had people forcibly drown me before. They never kill me but they almost came close to it every time."
Something heavy settled in his stomach. Ichigo had just shared a small part of history, and it had hardly scratched the surface. There were was so much more hidden deep inside his soul. What Ichigo did reveal though was that people had indeed tortured him. They wanted something from him. He dared to ask another question. One that would confirms his suspicions.
"Ichigo, these people tortured you right? What did they want from you?"
Ichigo took in a sharp breath, and closed his blind eyes. One of his hands reached out to his left to gently place his hand on his ebony colored blade. Almost as if he was seeking assurance from the nightmares of his past. His face turned into a scowl for a moment before returning to his blank expression. He couldn't even guess what was running through his head.
Birds had began to chirp, as Ichigo remained silent. The sun was beginning to rise, casting soft hues of orange, red, and pinks across the few drifting clouds in the baby blue sky. He spotted sparkles of morning dew on the grass through the open garden doors. Ichigo talking again snapped him out of his revere.
"Yes, they did torture me. What they wanted was important information, and to see how long it would take for me to break." Ichigo covered his blind eyes and gave a painful smug smirk. "It took them longer than they thought it would."
"To break you?"
"Yeah, but I never gave up that information and I never will." Ichigo moved his hand from his face to comfort Kameko who was becoming distressed. Her face scrunched up in discomfort. Looking down at her, Ichigo softly caressed her face and hair until she calmed. Even after she calmed down he continued to stroke her baby hair.
"She reminds me so much of them." Ichigo spoke quietly with his voice full of nostalgia. Akihiko raised his eyebrows in surprise. He had expected that their conversation was over. His curiosity overcame him again, and he had to ask.
"Of who, Ichigo?" He looked between Ichigo and his daughter, trying to see what he saw.
"My beautiful niece and nephews." He then smiled softly at Ichigo. This boy was so kind. Almost too kind.
"What are their names?" Ichigo gave a small pained look to Kameko. This couldn't be good.
"My niece was named Masaki. She was a sweet, goofy baby. Just like her mom. Even had the same hair color. The nephews were twins, but they never got the chance to be named." A rock settled heavily into his stomach as he understood what Ichigo implied. They died shortly after they were born or never were born in the first place. Akihiko couldn't even imagine losing Shin or Kameko. He would die before that happened.
"I'm sorry." That was the only thing that he could seem to say.
"No I'm the one who's sorry. I'm sorry to them. Both to their parents and themselves. I couldn't protect them. I couldn't protect any of them. Their blood is on my hands. And this burden rests solely on my shoulders alone." The sun rose from behind the horizon, turning Ichigo's hair into a blazing fire. The cold almost murderous look made his breath hitch in fear. "I'm going to make sure that innocent people never die because of me again. Even if the cost comes at great expense to myself." A light knock on the door made both of them jump.
Turning around, he saw the door slide open to reveal his assistant Sora. He and Sora stared at each other in surprise. Sora then crossed his arms over his chest, glanced suspiciously between them, then to something in the hallway, and back to them.
"Akihiko-sama? Might I ask what you are doing in Ichigo-san's room? I do believe that Ichigo-san needs to rest after his ordeal yesterday."
He scratched the back of his neck nervously and looked to Ichigo for help only to see him do the same action as him. He snorted and rolled his eyes. Ichigo was no help at all.
"Well, what are you doing here in Ichigo's room Sora?" Sora gave him an 'are you serious look' at his question. Ichigo gave a soft mph in amusement. He grinned at Ichigo's apparent amusement.
"Ichigo-san did not come to the kitchen this morning to make his meal. All of the staff, including myself, were concerned, so I came to check up on him." He gave a soft smile at the almost flustered look that began to form on Ichigo's face.
"I'm sorry to have concerned you and the others." Ichigo then swiftly handed Kameko to him, and stood up, making his way to the wooden wardrobe in the far corner of the room. "I will be there soon. I just need to change yukatas." Sora nodded and closed the door behind him.
Opening the wardrobe, Ichigo felt his way around until he pulled out a black yukata that had bright gold, blazing red, sunset orange, copper brown and soft yellow colored leaves that fell from his shoulder, down his back, and to finally rest on top of the pile of leaves that lined the bottom hem. It reminded him that the start of autumn was coming up very shortly. In about a month or so. The same time as the clan gathering. The same time that Ichigo might leave.
Ichigo had pulled off his other yukata, he looked away to give the boy some privacy only to stare at the scars that littered his body. A body that had scars upon scars. From the whip lashes, cuff scars on his wrists and ankles, stab wounds, burn marks, blade cuts, and rope burns were some of the ones that he recognized. There were others that he could hardly describe. The ones that drew his attention the most were the dark brands on both of his arms and the one set in between his shoulder blades.
He had two on each arm. The left arm held the Kuchiki and Shihonin crests. The other held the Ohara and Miyamoto crests. The one that was on Ichigo's back was his very own crest. The Shiba clan.
He still had no idea as to why or how he got those brands. There had been no such occurrences before where there was a need to brand someone. Ichigo caught his attention again when he flinched and grabbed his left side. The side with a large patch of sensitive pink skin that starkly contrasted his normally tanned skin. It started from his hip to about his mid-ribcage, and shaped in a jagged oval, almost like one of his fireworks. It was one of Ichigo's worst wounds. Concern gnawed at his gut. Ichigo was still in a lot of pain even though it has been two weeks since he had woken up.
"Are you alright Ichigo?" Ichigo had been tenderly poking at the wound when his head snapped up at his question.
"Yes I'm fine, I just twisted the wrong way. I'm fine." He quickly pulled on the yukata, and fixed it into place, before making his way to the door. "Akihiko-san, it was a nice to speak with you. Next time maybe we can discuss more happy and thrilling topics." With that Ichigo left the room with Sora following after giving him a polite bow.
He gave another sigh and looked at his sleeping daughter. He didn't like how Ichigo suddenly distanced himself just now. Ichigo apparently still did not trust him.
"How did you gain his trust so easily? What is the secret, Kameko?" He stood up and left Ichigo's room. It was impolite to stay in someone else's room when they are not present. Well at least he can work on his paperwork now.
Slipping through the now bustling hallways full of staff members preparing for the day, he made it to his office without incident. Standing outside his office door was Tadashi. He had a nervous look and demeanor. He was wringing his hands and fiddling nervously with his pale brown yukata. His golden brown hair tousled and unkempt. Something was wrong. Suspicion tore at his gut.
Once Tadashi caught sight of him coming down the hallway, his nervousness doubled, and his pale blue eyes couldn't meet his own. Only staring at the floor. That doubled his own suspicion.
He opened the door, and glanced at Tadashi.
"Come on in Tadashi. We can talk in my office." He only saw white when he stepped into his office. Large stacks of paperwork covered his desk, and on the floor. His shoulders slumped. Great. Just great. Shaking his head, he maneuvered his way to the paperwork laden desk. Sitting heavily onto his chair, he stared at Tadashi, who just stood there looking at the floor.
"What is wrong Tadashi? This is not like you at all." Tadashi's head snapped up to stare at him wide eyed. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He then resumed looking at the floor.
While he patiently waited for Tadashi to work up the courage to speak, he began organizing the paperwork on his desk. There buried among the papers was the report from the healer on the man that Ichigo had killed yesterday. He set that aside to read when he was alone.
"Akihiko-sama, I don't know what to do?" He looked up to gaze at Tadashi with a raised eyebrow. Tadashi was still staring at the floor. He resisted from throwing a pen at him. Looking someone in the eye was important, but scaring them off was worse in this case.
"What do you mean you don't know what to do? You have been assigned to be Ichigo's attendant, correct?"
"Yes, Akihiko-sama, you did." Tadashi mumbled. He frowned. His anger was rising by the minute, and his suspicion shrunk.
"Then why are you here in my office, and not helping Ichigo? Is it because you got frustrated with him yesterday, and stormed off?"
"Yes, but there is something else too." Akihiko felt his eyebrow twitch. Tadashi was not being clear and straight forward.
"Well get to the point. What has you speaking with me?" Tadashi wrung his hands together for a moment.
"I had overheard your conversation with Ichigo-san this morning. What he revealed to you made me realize that my actions were inappropriate yesterday. Ichigo-san has been through something terrible, and I did not think about that. I was very rude and mean to him. Now I don't know how to act or even what to say around him. What if he hates me? What if he doesn't want me to go near him anymore? I would be a failure as an attendant. How can I face Ichigo-san? How…"
He held up his hand to stall Tadashi's worried babbling. So Tadashi was what Sora was looking at earlier in the hallway. He understood now, why Tadashi was so nervous. But he didn't need to be so worried. Ichigo had forgiven him for something he had done that was even worse. He was sure that Ichigo would forgive Tadashi for his mistake.
"Tadashi, Ichigo will forgive you if you apologize." Tadashi looked at him with hope.
"Really Akihiko-sama?" He smiled and nodded at Tadashi. Tadashi gave a deep bow. "Thank you so much Akihiko-sama. I shall go attend to Ichigo-san now." Tadashi turned to leave.
"Wait just a moment Tadashi. Can you take Kameko with you, and hand her off to Ran? She should be with Sora or Ichigo. Also tell Sora that I am not to be disturbed. As you can see, I have a lot of paperwork to do, and some of it is for my eyes only." Tadashi nodded, made his way around the desk, and took Kameko from him.
He gave a soft kiss to his daughter's head, before Tadashi took her and left the room. Sighing at finally having some peace and quiet, he moved to look at the healer's report first. There was no identification, so he had no name to go by. The man was well trained, and extremely healthy. There were no other markers that he had ties to the Ryodoji other than the crest that was on his clothes. He had no weapons on him. The body had been burned, but the healer held onto the clothes in case they would be needed later. Which they would. At the very back of the report was a sketch of the man's face. He had not seen it before because of the cloth covering his face.
He felt the blood drain out of his face. This could not be possible. What he was staring at was not good. How would he tell Ichigo? This might push him over the edge of not trusting anyone ever again.
The sketch of the man stared at him. The face of the man that tried to kill Ichigo. The man that looked like Michio. The man that could only be Michio.
"Oh, hell."
A shout out to:
innocent94: Your very welcome. We hope that you enjoy this next chapter.
TheMaidenOfTheHunt: Here are some time travel stories that send Ichigo to the very beginning; Rise of the Slaying Moon by Wrecksauce, Memories of a Broken Soul by arelia22. We love how well done they are, but they have not updated in a while just to warn you. Thank you for enjoying our story so far. Akihiko will try to keep his promise to protect Ichigo as much as he can.
Loli-Hype Ichi: Thank you for the wonderful compliments. We are happy that you love this heart breaking moment. We were worried that it would not turn out well. Thank you. Here is the next chapter for you to enjoy.
Guest: This is quite a long review that you have given us, but we appreciate it all the more. You make us very happy by saying that you get so happy when we update, and will continue reading no matter what. There will always be a bit of mystery behind Ichigo, but his past will slowly be revealed in flashbacks and hints. We know that we are not the best of writers, so we are very happy that you point out areas that we need to work on especially details and who is who in the chapters. Hopefully our chapters will just get better and better as we practice writing more and more. Thank you for putting up with it so far. This only make us strive to be better for you guys. Thank you so much. You have no idea how much we appreciate to hear from you and others.
Ziggysmallz: Here are some words that we can say to you though. Thank you so much for reading and liking this story. We appreciate it so much to hear that you are at a loss for words.
Nolifeking222: Thank you for the compliment on our story. Don't worry this story won't stop anytime soon. Hope you enjoy this next chapter.
amazinglion29: We also felt bad for Ichigo when we wrote this, but it just seemed like something that would happen as a consequence for what happened at the festival. Besides Ichigo is a magnet for trouble, and he knows it. We all know it. Things will only escalate from here on out as the time for the clan gathering draws near. The guy that Ichigo killed will play a major role for many chapters to some so don't forget about him just yet. We hope you enjoy this next thrilling chapter that made even our hearts race by the end, pushing us even more to continue this story.
Ongaku: Many people have also expressed their sadness for Ichigo at how he is handling things. We take it as a good sign that it was written well, we hope. The dead body will play a major role for many chapters. We are glad that you liked Ichigo's delusional scene at the end. None of us had ever read anything like that before and wanted to see if it fit with all that Ichigo has been through. It seems it has. So thank you. More of Ichigo's past will be brought up as the chapters continue, but it won't be all at once. Just hints and little pieces here and there to keep up the mystery. Thank you so much for enjoying this story and we hope that you enjoy this next chapter as well.
Thank you to all of our other readers out there. We wish to express our gratitude to all of you. You have encouraged us to continue writing this story, let us know what we still need to improve on, and your thoughts about the chapter that you have just read. Thank you all so much for sticking with us through bad grammar, the stupid auto-correct, and just our writing in general. So thank you. Thank you so much. We will update next Wednesday. Let us know how we did.
- The Crew
