Chapter 19:
"Is he going to be okay?" Toshiro asked with concern and sadness in his voice.
Yoruichi, who had patched Ash up and propped him upright in the healing pool had nodded. "He's one tough guy. He fought against one of the stronger captains while being handicapped and still managed to win." the tan woman stated with pride in her student.
"What is with his Shunko? I thought it was supposed to be lightening based. It was when he first used it wasn't it?"
"Well you see, everyone's Shunko starts off being Lightening based. But over the course of usage, it shapes to the person's relative reiatsu and aura. For Ash it's fire." She said as she motioned to the unconscious teen a few meters away from her. She saw Toshiro's eyes flash with interest for a second and already knew what he would say. "Sorry Shiro. I can't teach it to you. I took a big risk teaching it to your brother as is."
"Oh, I understand. What was the risk?" He asked with a slight tilt of the head and a raise of a brow.
"Well, don't be mad." She started and smiled sheepishly, "Since he has little knowledge of Kido, he had the possibility of killing himself. Since Shunko is combining Kido and haduka, there was a large chance of his reiatsu imploding. I think that's why he looks so drained, he used Shunko three times today. Poor thing must be in some serious pain."
"..." Toshiro looked on in annoyance. "So everytime he uses Shunko… he's killing himself?" The area grew slightly colder.
"Easy Snowball. He's only straining his body, he's not killing himself. I think. Look on the bright side, his Shunko is one of the most powerful ones I've ever seen." She said with a simple shrug. The teal-eyed teen sighed heavily once more and sat cross-legged a few meters away, allowing his thoughts to wander on Akame.
'What's wrong Master? Your mind seems clouded.' The dragon Hyorinmaru flew as he spoke.
'It's because it is. I don't know what to do.'
The dragon said nothing further. He soared in the air a bit longer before landing next to Toshiro, and coiling his giant body around his master, offering him some comfort. A small blizzard started to brew in their inner world but neither paid it any heed.
"Shiro." Yoruichi's voice snapped him back to reality. "Seems we have company." Her tone sounded as though she knew who was there. She did.
"Hi, Yoruichi." Akame said with a friendly smirk that didn't reach her eyes.
"Hey, Akame and Ran-san." Yoruichi responded with a careless wave. She figured that Akame had been smart enough to sneak here and conceal her presence and that the Captain wouldn't report them to the old man. But seeing that both Ash and Toshiro were here, she doubted that would be an issue. "Any reason you're here?" The tan woman had a vague idea but just wanted to hear her old friend tell her.
"Well...we came here to see the ryoka. Ash and Toshiro." The shorter woman sounded sad.
"You're not going to arrest them are you?" The tan woman chuckled.
"No, I won't and I won't allow anyone to do so either." Akame's declaration was absolute.
"Well, I trust you both. I have business to attend to. See ya for now." Yoruichi said as she reverted back to her cat form and shunpoed away. 'Good luck Akame, those two aren't little boys anymore.'
There was a tense silence for a few moments. Toshiro didn't move from his place and kept his gaze firmly on his sister. Rangiku crept around the room for a second before she walked over to Ash's unconscious body. Toshiro's stare fell on her for a second before disregarding her presence entirely and solely focusing on Akame.
"So, this is the kid that beat Captain Zaraki. Wow." Rangiku stated in awe as the thought of that battle entered her mind. "He's an attractive one." Rangiku said with a small laugh, causing her captain to glare at her.
"When I agreed to let you come here, I didn't agree to let you perv on my baby brother." Akame said in annoyance.
"But Captaiiiiiin, they're both pretty gorgeous. Plus they're powerful! What woman in the Gotei wouldn't want them?" Rangiku whined, trying to change the mood.
Toshiro cleared his throat loud enough to gain both female's attention. "Why are you here?" Toshiro asked with a vile tone.
"Oh Shiro," Akame pleaded, "I didn't want things to end up this way."
"Wait, what exactly happened?" Rangiku questioned with a tilt of her head. "When you told me you had brothers, I figured that they we're shinigami themselves."
"Yes, Akame. Care to explain to her what happened? Or better yet, I'll do it."
"No!" Akame protested. "I'll tell you; at least let me explain what really happened."
As Akame began the story, a red eye twitched a bit and opened minutely. It went undetected to everyone else but this proved advantageous to Ash as it allowed him to take in his surroundings.
-Thirteen Years Ago-
"Akame-nii!" A much younger Toshiro yelled out. "Ash is being lazy again! Tell him to play with me!"
Akame smiled lightly and walked towards Ash, who had been lying on the floor a few feet away from the whining Toshiro, "Ash-kun. Shiro-chan wants to play with you. You should get up."
"Okay!" Ash suddenly exclaimed happily and jumped up, scaring the woman. Ash dove onto his brother and the two began to roll over on the floor.
"Okay boys, not too rough." The old maid, Fujita had told them soothingly. Ash and Toshiro played a bit calmer but continued to roll around without a care in the world. "That's better." Fujita said with a smile.
"Thanks Fuji-san. Those boys can be a pain." Akame said with a wide grin. "Can you come to the kitchen?"
"Of course. Boys can you-" Fujita began, but Akame cut her off. "Just us please." The woman looked confused for a moment before she nodded.
Akame and Fujita entered the kitchen and left Ash and Toshiro playing as they we're. "Shiro-nii. They left us again." Ash whined. The brothers sat down in silence and patiently waited for their care-takers to comeback. Ash's eyes suddenly widen and startled his white-haired family member.
"What? Is there another one?" He asked, with his tiny voice filled with terror. He glanced around and tall man with brown hair and a nice-looking face. "Who are you?" Toshiro as he stood side by side from Ash, who had stood up.
"I'm noone, little one. Can you see that ghost over there?" The man asked with a warm smile. Toshiro nor Ash responded. They both just glared at the man, and didn't move. "Oh, not enough manners to answer me? That's fine. You'll be seeing me in your life more than you'd like."
"Akame-nii!" Toshiro yelled out, causing the man to smile. Within seconds, Akame and Fujita appeared in the living room, looking concerned. "That man was here again."
Akame didn't say anything. Nor did Fujita.
A few days later, Akame came up to the boys, "Hey, listen. Work has been hectic, so I'll have to go in extra early today. Got it?" She said with a gentle nudge to Toshiro.
"Okay," He said happily, "Stay safe." He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and ran off. Ash too gave her a kiss on the cheek and raced to follow Toshiro.
'Please forgive me boys.' She thought to herself before departing. Fujita knew where she was going and felt sad. "Take good care of them Fuji-san."
"Why must you go, can't the old man let you stay awhile longer?" The elder woman pleaded.
"No, I've been here long enough."
"What do I tell the boys when they're sister isn't home for dinner?"
"Tell them I died in a car accident." Akame pulled out a piece of paper. "Show them this in a few days. I'm so sorry for this."
"Wait, why don't you just wipe their memories? Can't you captains do that?"
"Yes we can, but…" She paused. "I don't want them to forget me."
"That's rather selfish, is it not?" Fujita's wrinkly face smiled. "Don't worry, I'll watch over them. Just keep in mind, they will find you one day, and you will have to tell them why you left." Akame nodded.
"That's a day I'm dreading more than my death. Goodbye Fujita-san." The young woman said with a low bow.
"Goodbye Captain Arai."
Akame Arai, captain of the 10th division broke down into tears. "I'm so sorry."
Toshiro's anger and left him and his being filled with confusion. Ash continued to be motionless in the pool with his hair now covering his eyes. "Why?" Ash spoke up, gaining everyone's attention. "Why did you bring us together if you knew you were going to leave?"
"Ash...you're awake.. I was sent to identify two spiritual pressures in the real world and happened to stumble on you two. It took me a while to figure out that those powers belong to both of you. When i figured it out, i requested to stay a bit longer in an attempt to take those powers away before you guys got yourselves or a loved one hurt, but I was too late. The Kita Family and Hitsugaya family were both slaughtered in a hollow attack."
"I see…" Ash whispered.
"Akame Arai…" Toshiro began slowly. He suddenly shunpoed in front of her and, without any warning, brought her into an embrace. "Stop crying Akame-nii, we forgive you."
"I would hug you too but I can't move." Ash said with a completely emotionless expression causing Toshiro to chuckle.
"We've got to go before someone finds us," Rangiku whispered, "See you guys later, Shiro-chan, Ash-kun."
As Akame and Rangiku departed, Ash looked at Toshiro, "There's something she's not telling us." Toshiro nodded.
"Yeah but let's just be glad she's with us now."
