Chapter 6

KASEN POV

I've been working for the Soul Society for over 300 years now. At first there were questions. A lot of them. I guess my mother was some kind of strange mix of Arrancar and Soul Reaper. And with me having all that fun stuff plus human in my blood. Yeah. I'm a weird ass mix. But once they deemed me no threat, they had me go through training and I became an assassin working for them. I don't think I really had much choice in the matter. Any dumbass could see that if I didn't do exactly as the higher ups said, I was pretty much dead. I didn't really care. I had nothing better to do. I didn't matter to anyone, even to myself. And that was okey. It made my job easier. My assignment was to kill my mother and her sister. They'd given the Soul Society a lot of grief and until just recently, had thought they were dead.

They had started back up their search originally when they had found me, but had quit after they came up with nothing. But according to my host, Ichigo Kurosaki, there had been a strange turn of events. And with the report, the higher ups were suspicious. I had assassinated many people before this assignment, so I was no newbie. And who better than your own blood to track you down? I could get friendly with them, pull off the long lost son stunt and kill them when they least expected it. If it didn't work, there was always plans B to Z. I couldn't expect things to go exactly as planned, there was always other factors I had to take into consideration. A pain, but apart of the job.

I had caught a glimpse of my target at a local bar, and I know she had seen me as well. But I couldn't approach her yet, it would look too suspicious. She would have to come to me. Though figures she decided to leave. No changes there. Her face had become blurry to me in the many years since she had left, but it was restored anew. Perhaps most would be happy to find their long lost family members but all I could think of was how I was going to kill her and my "aunt." The names were foreign to my tongue, mother and aunt. They hadn't left my lips in a long time. It would be difficult to address them in that way if the time came, that was for sure.

I never really did take the time to ponder on the lives of my targets, nor did I ever allow myself to get attached. They were my mission. And that was all there was to it. They would die, and I would move onto my next assignment.

AZUMI POV

I stood in the ally for some time after Grimmjow had left, thinking about what he had said. Of course I wanted to see Kasen. But how could I? After all these years how could I just walk up to him like that? Somehow I doubted that would go down well. I walked out to the sidewalk, heading back to the forest. I needed to find Ashyah, maybe she would have something to say about this...or even a premonition. Anything would do. Kasen had been pretty fond of Ashyah when he was young, maybe she had some sort of insight on how I should approach this...Ok now you're just being desperate...I thought exasperated at my own wishful thinking. When I ask Ashyah for advice on people there was definitely something wrong with the universe. Ashyah could hardly tell the difference between right and wrong much less how to solve a problem like this.

Ah, what the hell do I have to lose? It may be worth a shot. I thought as I reached the forest. I had to search for sometime before I found Ashyah sitting next to Ulquiorra, seemingly trying to explain to him his previous life...or at least trying to convince him of it. A branch underfoot snapped, making my presence known. Ashyah turned to look at me, her blue eyes shining with something I had not seen for a long time, fear. Though it didn't seem to be of Ulquiorra...but then what? I stayed where I was, trying to dissect the meaning of such a look. Before I could say anything though, Ulquiorra stood up.

"I need to return to my duties." he said dryly. Ashyah got up as if to object, but Ulquiorra interrupted her before she could say anything. "We shall continue this meeting another time." he stated, almost as if were fact. Ashyah lowered the hand she had raised to stop him, nodding in understanding. He then walked off, Ashyah waving goodbye even though his back was turned. Ashyah looked back to face me.

"I'm sorry for interrupting you two," I apologized, feeling a bit like it had been my fault that he left. Ashyah shook her head, looking to me and waiting.

"I...um…" I broke off, wondering how I was going to word it. "There was someone I met...or rather saw at the bar earlier…" I started off, Ashyah just waited, blank eyes staring. "I think it was...or I'm sure it was Kasen." I got out, waiting for an outburst, though Ashyah didn't seem surprised at all.

"Well of course." She said, as if I shouldn't have been surprised at these turn of events.

"What do you mean, of course?" I asked, my voice rising slightly. Something flashed within Ashyah's strange eyes, "From the moment you left him with the old woman, I knew we would meet again. Though what would become of him I could not tell." she replied.

"You knew?!" I shouted, outraged, "Why didn't you tell me this 500 years ago?!" Ashyah tilted her head, "Did you not plan on seeing him again?" she asked seeming almost bewildered.

"I-" my voice caught in my throat, before the words completely died on my tongue. I averted my eyes to look at the ground. Ashyah seemed to understand.

"You should go talk to him." She said in her usual curious monotone.

"How?!" I asked, distressed. Everyone kept telling me that, but how could I? Just appear suddenly to him like that?

"You start by saying hello." Ashyah simply stated, as if it were that easy. I sighed, "It's just not that simple." I muttered. Ashyah tilted her head in confusion.

"Then I will do it." She offered, even though to anyone else it would have sounded like a statement.

"You don't have to do that…" I assured her quietly, feeling guilty for not having the guts for something even my sister could do.

"But I will, because if I don't who else?" She asked.

"No one, we should just let it be," I stated. There was no reason to it, I left my chance long ago to be a mother.

"But you don't want to let it be," it wasn't a question. I stayed silent, and Ashyah walked away, and all I could do was stand there and stare at the dead leaves.

ASHYAH POV

I walked towards the town following the odd spiritual pressure that I knew was Kasen. His powers had developed quite a bit since he was young, but I could still sense its familiarity. I really had adored Azumi's child, and it had made me sad when we left him. But he wasn't my child. I couldn't have any, I was unable to. Though I had liked to believe that in a way Kasen was like a son to me.

I reached the bar Azumi must have been talking about, I was only a couple feet away when the carrot top and a boy with black hair and cyan blue eyes walked out. He saw me, and a flicker of recognition passed over his eyes before he looked away. But I knew who he was, and he knew who I was. But for some reason he didn't want to acknowledge it. As they passed I turned to watch them. I sent an illusion of a park to him, just long enough for him to see it before I made it disappear. I would wait for him there and see if he came. I then turned and walked in the opposite direction, heading towards the park full of cherry blossoms.

KASEN POV

I had seen both my targets in one day now, but one of them had contacted me. Ashyah, my aunt. She seemed to recognise me as soon as I stepped out of the bar, and shortly after I saw a flash of a park. One I had seen somewhere around here before. It had startled me a bit at first, though I never showed it, but I knew that it must have been one of her illusionary powers that she was known for. I didn't expect Ashyah to be the one to contact me, I was told that she prefered to hide in the background, and attack from the shadows. But at least things could move along now. At this rate my mission would be completed in no time.

Once we had reached Ichigo's house, I excused myself, saying that I had work to do. A strange expression passed over his face before he nodded and disappeared into his house. I turned and headed to the park, thinking of how I wanted to approach this situation. I could kill her now and wait for Azumi to find her body, and then kill her while she was distracted by her sister's corpse. But that could lead to many different outcomes. There was always the chance that Ashyah wouldn't trust me at first, and that I would be tricked by one of her illusions. It would probably be best if I got close to them first, wait for them to trust me again before I striked. I would have to kill Ashyah first, because she would know if I had killed Azumi. And Azumi would be most distracted and at her weakest if Ashyah were to die. She was her only family after all. Ashyah would not be so simple. I had to catch her off guard. While Azumi had strength, Ashyah had intelligence, and the mental abilities to show it. If I were to get on the wrong side of her...she could drive me to mental madness.

On the other hand, I was Azumi's son. Though she may be able to abandon me, would she be able to kill me? I suppose I will find out soon enough, I thought as I reached the park, noticing a figure sitting on a bench. I walked over, quietly sitting on the other side of the bench. Crystal blue eyes turned to me, "Hello, Kasen." Ashyah greeted.

"Hello." I said back, studying her. It was a rarity that I got so close to my targets like this, but the situation called for it.

"Do you know if death likes cake?" She asked out of the blue. My face scrunched up in confusion, I was caught off guard by the question. She was a strange one…

"I'm afraid not…" I replied truthfully, not seeing any harm in it.

"Oh." she looked down, seeming almost disappointed. I stared at her.

"Why?" I asked feeling curious.

"I've just been wondering...that's all." She said, looking out at the cherry blossoms.

I looked out at them as well, thinking of something normal to say...as if I were glad to see her...as if I wanted reasons. Because that's what normal people would want in this situation isn't it? A reason as to why their family left them? Though I wasn't normal, in actuality I couldn't care less.

"So where have you both been all these years? What have you been doing?" I asked, putting a tint of emotion into my voice. As if the mention of it had saddened me. Ashyah turned to face me again, her clear eyes piercing into mine, it took me all I could not to flinch. Those eyes seemed to look right into the soul, like they knew. I stared right back.

"We didn't go anywhere in particular, but we've been just about everywhere. Seen practically everything. It gets boring. I wish you had been there." She said, almost without emotion. That seemed to be the way she spoke, without any emotion. Had this been another situation, she would have made a great assassin.

"Why wasn't I?" I asked, acting as this were an important question.

"It's not my place to answer that. You would have to ask Azumi, your mother. It was never my decision. But what I can tell you, is that it wasn't easy for Azumi. It was a painful time for us all. It wasn't safe, and I'm sure she just wanted you to have a good life. She did love you." These were strong and emotional words, and she spoke them as lightly as if she were talking about the nice weather. It may be harder to kill her than I had originally thought, which meant I couldn't underestimate Azumi either. They had been outsmarting a lot longer than I had. I suddenly got an idea.

"What if it had been your decision?" I asked delicately. Her eyes flickered to mine for a moment before she looked back to the surrounding trees.

"Does it matter what I would have done? The past cannot be changed, I do not understand how this will accomplish anything." She replied, though I knew this tactic. This was diverting from an emotion. From what I wanted: to make her feel resentment towards Azumi. I would have to push more.

"But I want to know...please?" I begged, putting on a desperate face and placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. A muscle in her jawline twitched and I knew that I had her.

"I...I would have...never left you. Had it been my choice…" she said quietly, looking to the ground, "I hated leaving you there…" the last part had been so quiet I almost didn't hear it.

"I wish it had been your decision…" I said carefully, "I've been...so alone for so long...I was so scared when I wouldn't age normally like the others...I hated myself for so long…I thought I was some kind of monster. I was told it enough." I murmured, placing in 'choked up' pauses every once in awhile.

"I am sorry…" she mumbled, jaw clenched. It had worked.

"Is it...do you think that it's too late to be a family?" I asked her. She turned to look at me, tears were streaming freely down her face.

"You never stopped being family, Kasen. I always loved you, because you were as much of a son to me as you were to Azumi." She said. I smiled 'in relief,' pulling her into a hug. Now would have been the perfect time to kill her. The urge to finish her off now was intense. Her young immortal body was small and childishly weak. It would be so easy. But if I played my cards right, I could get them both off guard. If I killed Ashyah now I wouldn't get my chance to get to Azumi. The way to my mother would have to be through Ashyah. Azumi obviously wasn't coming to me.

When we pulled apart I smiled warmly at her, and she mirrored it. Now was the time to ask, "Do you...think I could meet my mother?" I asked innocently.

Ashyah smiled brightly, "I'm sure Azumi would love that."

I grinned, "I can't wait…"