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What Sets Us Apart
Chapter Two - Who You Are
Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys. Yeah, I posted up the sequel pretty quick didn't I? But that didn't harm anyone. :D, Anyways…Yeah…thanks for reviewing once again. BTW…it took me forever to finish this chapter up. School work…ugh…
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Inori woke up after hearing the clap of thunder above his rooftop. He gazed at the ceiling wall as if he could see the beams of light turning on and off. He grunted and lay on his side, lazily staring at the small clock his mother had given to him for his birthday. Another roar of thunder was heard and he jolted up more alarmed.
"Jeez." The boy grumbled scratching the back of his raven head. He tossed the blanket off of his body and stood up gazing in front of the mirror. Yawning he took off his shirt and replaced it with another. It was morning, and yet it was already gloomy. Never in his life has the weather been so miserable.
The door opened suddenly and he gazed at the shadowy figure coming inside. Unohana entered a day earlier, looking quite pale and exhausted. "Okaa-san? Are you alright?" Inori asked and traveled towards her. The woman stopped and gazed at him. She was worried - he could tell because whenever she bit her lower lip like that she was either disappointed or nervous.
"I-I'm fine." The woman whispered rubbing her forehead with unease. It had been two days since she had left, and ever since those two days she had been working terribly on the case of Ichigo's ashes…and contemplating whether to tell her son who he truly was. She closed her eyes and reminisced on what Kyouraku and the others had told her.
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"You HAVE to tell him!" The bearded man replied in alarm as he watched her cleaning up the bloodied bodies. She sighed and gazed at him with impatience. Her eyes glowed uncomfortably. "PLEASE! Unohana-san!" Kyouraku clasped his hands together and knelt down.
"…But what of the boy? He'll be shocked, disappointed!" She retorted a little frustrated. "Besides…he already hates nobility."
"…You must do so…still." Yoruichi replied casually while leaning against the wall. Urahara appeared as well and nodded his head. "…He might have something to do with the whole ash things…after all…he's the only one who doesn't know who he is." She grumbled.
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Unohana let out a defeated sigh as she sat down on the unoccupied stool. She stared at her son who looked at her with curiosity and worry. He seemed impatient as well. "May I tell you something?" The doctor asked staring at the teenager. Inori nodded and crossed his arms. He wanted to know what was bothering his mother.
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His pale fingertips touched the black ashes of the king. A small satisfied smile reached his lips - for once he was actually showing an emotion. Grunts and laughter were heard, surrounding him. Each belonging to some crazy maniacs. "Hurry up, Ulquiorra!" A man growled behind him, slapping his knee with impatience. The man stared back at him and said nothing. He turned his attention towards the black dust in his palms.
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"NO…I-I can't be…" The boy responded. He stared at the doctor in front of him. The doctor he thought to be his mother, wasn't who she was. His eyes shimmered in complete confusion. "…I…I'm not…"
"Yes. You are Kurosaki Inori." Unohana retorted quietly. He laughed, trying to shake the funny feeling inside him - yet it didn't help. This was like a dream. No. It was a dream. He didn't like nobility and now he found himself hating himself. It was a big tear in his world. "…Now, listen to me Inori…" Unohana whispered casually.
It was like nothing ever happened to her. It was like she was glad that he had finally been told he was a Kurosaki. It was like…she wanted to tell him. Like she didn't want to be his 'mother' anymore. "Inori?" Unohana asked gazing at the teen who seemed to tremble with anger. He was clenching softly onto his red fabric kimono. "Are you alright?" She added several seconds later.
"O-Of course I am!" The boy responded with pride. His voice wavered, but she could tell that he was fine. "…Why wouldn't I be?" He whispered softly. He saw the doctor's shadow move - and he found her softly embracing him.
At first he was surprised. She had never in her lifetime, hugged him like that. She squeezed him in such a way, it felt so comfortable. He didn't want her to leave him. "Gomen…Inori-kun." Unohana replied gently and looked at the child's face. He wasn't crying…she knew he wouldn't, because he hated to show how fragile he was. "…Now listen to me." He nodded slowly as she stared at him straight.
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Ulquiorra paced back and forth, they were missing something. He didn't know what, but he knew that he couldn't perform the ritual if they didn't have it. "Grimmjaw…" The man whispered dangerously, turning around to face a shadowy figure lying lazily on the concrete floor. "…Did you…"
"Yeah, yeah…I got everything!" The other one waved his hands to reassure the serious man.
"…Ok then…" Ulquiorra replied softly. "So then where's the blood?" He asked angrily, pointing at the stone table. Everything was in place. Ichigo's cremated body, a vile of some strange liquid, and a small dagger.
"…No one told me to get blood." Grimmjaw grumbled. "If you want blood, why don't you go and cut one of these fellows up?" The sadistic man replied smoothly, taking a small girl by the throat. He took out a small concealed knife and slit her throat. Blood poured out rapidly, and he threw the useless body away. "See? Happy?" He grumbled while yawning.
Ulquiorra rolled his eyes and stepped on the useless crimson liquid. He eyed Grimmjaw with dissatisfaction. "I don't want just any blood." He replied grimly. "I want one of his heir's blood." With that he turned around, and Grimmjaw quickly disappeared.
"Damn you…" The man replied hastily while he ran through the forest. "Where the hell am I gonna find them Kurosaki blood????" He asked himself. His eyes widened and it gleamed with a little amusement. "Hmmm…I guess we'll just have to go to the Queen and ask." He smiled mischievously.
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Inori fell backwards, utterly confused on why Unohana wanted him to do that. "W-What…?" He repeated after the second time she had explained to him. His mother sat down on a stool, rubbing her temples.
"I'd like you to go to the Kurosaki kingdom…" She whispered. "Meet your aunts…and your grandfather…"
"But…WHY?!" He protested. Yes. He was of royal blood, but that didn't mean he would have to go and interact with the other nobility.
"So that you can be taken care of properly." Unohana replied gently and calmly. In reality someone who asked so much questions normally would anger her, but since he was her son she had to be at least kind.
"…Why…?" He muttered.
As stubborn as your father and mother. Unohana sighed. "…Stop asking. Get prepared. We'll leave soon." She didn't want to tell him the upcoming danger. She knew he would only be in the way if he knew about it.
He stepped away from her, his back turned around. He hated his life. He hated it. "Fine then." Inori replied angrily, gritting his teeth.
So here he was. Being shoved into a new world, and no one cared. NO ONE.
Unohana sighed lightly as she watched him walk upstairs to his room. She heard him slam his door forcefully which deepened her heart a little. She cried softly while wiping her forehead. "I shouldn't have volunteered to take care of him." The woman replied to herself a little tired. "I should have known that I would be this attached."
The night was long, and Unohana walked alongside Inori. It had been at least three hours with silence, and it felt very peculiar. Though her son always was silent, this quietness felt really uncomfortable. She was nervous when she found the white skyscrapers looming above them. They were finally here. "Welcome home." She replied hoarsely. He nodded and entered.