Welcome to the family

'So, is there any reason for us to move from our very new home after today?' Zangetsu asks.

'I was on my very best behaviour,' I assure him.

'No enemies, then? There's nobody in the local hospital?'

'Just a dick named Grimmjow, and no harm has come to him.'

Zangetsu raises an eyebrow. 'Need I be worried?'

I sigh. 'They're in every school, Zangetsu. Some kids are just like that. Get used to it.'

'Did you interact with anyone else?'

'I'm going to take that to mean, did you make any friends? And the answer's the same as it usually is. No.' I decide not to mention Toshiro Hitsugaya and Rukia Kuchiki.

'Good. Now, come and have a look at this.'

He steps aside and I walk through the front door into the house. I know that the only place he'll be wanting to show me anything is his study, so I make my way there now. The various laptops and monitors are all switched on, completely covering the large desk. Zangetsu leads me over to the computer in the middle, indicating an online article from a news website on the screen. I take a seat and stare at it. It's about some battle that took place somewhere near New York, where a father and son fought what the police think is a gang. The gang managed to disappear mysteriously from the scene, but not before they seriously wounded the father, who is now in a critical condition in private hospital. The boy is nowhere to be seen, and everyone believes he must have been kidnapped.

'Look,' Zangetsu says, clicking on an ID picture that they pulled out of the father's wallet. The man had long black hair, neatly trimmed, with these weird white hair garments, and his appearance isn't ringing any bells, so I look at my Cêpan, waiting for him to explain.

'I remember him,' Zangetsu says slowly. 'He's a Cêpan.'

My mouth drops open. 'So... the boy is-?'

'A Garde. Yes. Number Nine, I believe.'

'… Holy crap...' I whisper, still staring at the screen. 'So, d'you think the Hollows have taken him...?'

Zangetsu bows his head. 'It's possible. The Garde children still have the Charm on them, so they shouldn't be able to inflict any harm on Nine. You are the only one of the Garde who is actually in danger. The same, however, cannot be said for the Cêpan. I believe the Hollows will come for Nine's Cêpan in the hospital, sooner or later.'

'Then... then we need to go to America,' I say, my heart beating at an abnormally fast pace in my chest. 'We can go and rescue them!'

'That's out of the question,' Zangetsu says quietly. 'You haven't developed any Legacies yet, and you would have no chance against an army of Hollows.'

'But- but they might die!'

'Nine is safe, Ichigo.'

'What about his Cêpan?!' I say, growing angry. 'He has no Charm to protect him!'

Zangetsu sighs. 'As much as it pains me to admit it, we cannot risk it. We Cêpan are expendable next to you Garde. You are the ones that will help Lorien rise again, and we certainly cannot go. You're next in line to die, so there's no way we can risk your life. If you were to meet any one of the Garde, the Charm would break and the Hollows won't have to kill you in order. That will put everyone at risk, especially since you have no powers yet.'

'We can't just sit here and do nothing!' I shout. 'We're the last of the Loric, no one is expendable!'

Zangetsu looks rather impressed by my latest comment, but he doesn't have any time to say anything, because at that moment we hear something slam against the door.

.

The sun has set and as I look through the windows, I can see it has grown quite dark outside and it's also raining. Zangetsu and I tense, both glancing through the windows, to see if we can see anybody outside. The loud noise against the door was definitely not a human knocking.

'I'll go. You need to wait here,' Zangetsu mouths at me. I nod, because this is apparently expected of me, as a Garde. The Cêpan's job is to protect me.

Zangetsu pulls a kitchen knife out of his pocket, something he keeps there for emergencies. This kind of makes me feel that something really bad is about to happen.

What if they've found us?

Zangetsu makes his way slowly to the front door, knife held out ready. His other hand reaches down tentatively for the handle, and I watch in suspense. The door swings open.

Zangetsu looks down, then chuckles.

'What?' I whisper frantically. 'What is it?'

He turns around, grinning, and steps aside so I can see it. A golden coloured cat with a shaggy mane, almost like a mini lion. A smile brakes out across my face too, as I approach the cat, who doesn't seem to be afraid in the least.

'Hey there,' I greet, bending down to stroke it under its chin. The poor creature is extremely wet, and seems to have no intention of going back outside again. It's purring contentedly.

'Hey. You gave us a scare,' I say, still smiling, as Zangetsu closes a door.

'Looks like a stray,' my Cêpan muses.

I look up hopefully. 'Can we keep him?'

'Why?'

'I'll have someone to talk to.'

'What's wrong with me?' he asks jokily.

'Seriously?' I say with a laugh. I pick the cat up and hold him in front of Zangetsu.

'Come on, look at him. How can you not love him? Please can we keep him? Please?'

He smiles. 'Sure, what the hell.'

'Thank you!' I put the cat down so I can have a look at him probably. His fur is matted and quite dirty, but I can still see a collar around his neck.

'Looks like he wasn't always a stray,' I say, fiddling with the collar, noticing the faded colours on the fabric. There's also a little name tag, but there are no details aside from his name.

'I wonder what happened to your owner,' I muse as I scratch the dirt off the name tag so I can read it properly

Hello, my name is Kon.

'Hello, Kon,' I say. 'My name is Four, but you can call me Ichigo. Welcome to the family.'

The cat continues to purr in reply.

.

That night, I have a dream about Number Nine.

I'm not even aware of how I know that the red-headed kid who looks about sixteen or seventeen is Number Nine, but it is definitely him. He's crouching underneath a bush in a forest at night time, and all around I can see dark figures in long black overcoats with flash lights walking around, obviously trying to find him. Nine bares his teeth and mutters, 'Damn Hollows.'

So these people are Hollows... I haven't seen them since the destruction of my planet, and I can't actually remember what they look like. It's dark in the dream, and the collars of their overcoats are covering their faces, so I can't see their faces.

Run, Nine, I think. They're going to find you any second now. They won't be able to kill you but they'll still imprison you. You have to run.

Nine rubs his hands together, trying not to make any noise, then he points them at the nearest Hollow. They begin to glow red and then a jet of crimson light erupts from his palms, hitting the Hollow in the chest. The Hollow grunts in pain and falls over, not dead but wounded. A grin flashes over Nine's face and then he shoots out from underneath the bush and races away as fast as he can. The Hollows all begin to shout and point, and I see them holding up these huge machine guns, pointing them at Nine's retreating back. I panic, then relax. Even if they do manage to hit him, he won't be harmed because of the charm. Whatever damage they try to do to him will be inflicted on them instead. At least, that's what Zangetsu has told me will happen as long as the charm remains strong.

Run, Nine. You have developed a laser Legacy, by the looks of it, and when I have Legacies of my own I will look for you and the others.

Lorien will rise again.