Last chapter was rather short, I know. That's only because at the time, I was suffering severe writer's block and really wanted to post the next chapter. That should be the shortest of the chapters that there is… I think. Hold on. … Sorry second shortest chapter if one includes the small interlude that will be included. Now back to the story.
Last time:
Tegan jerked backwards in surprise only to freeze as the tip of a blade was placed at her throat. The man was now behind her – safe from the attack that Tegan could have unleashed – and Tegan was now at the mercy of his blade.
Tegan tensed as the man behind her chuckled humorously. "Tegan Shade. Well. I'm not sure if I can say that it's nice to finally meet you."
Her breath caught in her throat as her blue eyes widened. "You know who I am?"
A cold feeling travelled down her spine. This man… He scared her. There was no denying that. Tegan knew that he could and would crush her if he wanted and her flimsy abilities would have little to no effect in fighting back. Also… It was one thing to be recognized because of her association with Kon. It was something completely different to be recognized and identified when the man had no knowledge that she even knew Kon beforehand. How did he know who she was?
His answer was cryptic yet to the point. "My son is one of your… companions."
Companions? Son? The only two guys that she really hung around were Pyro and Kyvain. Tegan had already met Pyro's dad. Once. He was just as much as an asshole but definitely not blond.
"You're Kyvain's father?" She asked, breathlessly. The man chuckled and placed his free hand on Tegan's shoulder, causing her to flinch involuntarily.
Great. So her friend's father wanted to kill her. Maybe that's why Kyvain never introduced her when they were dating. Go figure.
"Let go of her."
Tegan was brought out of her thoughts by a new voice that was followed closely by the growl of… She blinked slowly. Was that a wolf?
Tegan's eyes moved from the snarling wolf to the person standing next to it.
"Didn't cha hear me?" Kita demanded, arms crossed. Her gaze never moved from Urahara's face. "I said to let go of her." A large bison joined her on her other side.
Tegan could not see Urahara's face from her position but from the sound of his voice, she was sure that there was a big, fat, fake smile on his face.
"Two humans then! Well, things just keep getting interesting, don't they?"
Kita scowled at him. "Are you deaf, asshole?"
Urahara gave a short laugh. "What? Are you going to attack me?" His eyes seemed to droop lazily as he lifted the blade higher. "While I still have your friend?"
It was the last thing Tegan heard before her world went black and the sound of a swinging sword echoed around her.
Syketon only paused for a moment to take in the black robes that Kyvain wore before launching herself towards Pyro with a shout.
"You bitch! That was my kill!"
Taken aback, Pyro didn't even move as Syke pulled her sword back and swung towards him. He could only blink rapidly behind his glasses even as Kyvain stopped the swinging blade with his own.
Several miles away, Tegan's eyes snapped open. Taking a moment to observe her surroundings, she allowed her tensed muscles to slowly relax before moving her blanket to the side.
Wait… Blanket?
It wasn't one that she recognized. She didn't recognize her surroundings either. Which meant…
Urahara.
Tegan propped herself up on her elbows, noting that the room was empty of people… and furniture. In fact, it seemed that the only object in the room was the bed that she had been sleeping on.
Eyes darting to and fro, Tegan got up and crept silently to the door to ease it open. It led to an empty hallway. Her mouth twisting into a determined grimace, Tegan began to creep across the wooden floors, her feet made no noise as they padded softly towards the furthest door from her.
It was a rather easy thing to accomplish, Tegan realized. Far too easy. She had often been able to skulk about silently when she wished but if this really was Urahara's domain then surely he would not have simply left her unattended?
Her question was answered the moment she managed to slink through the door. In the middle of the room sat a large, circular table, surrounded by sitting cushions of all kinds. And sitting at that table was Urahara.
Tegan instantly froze when she spotted the blond man, who merely smiled back at her and beckoned her closer.
Swallowing the lump that formed in her throat, Tegan advanced forward. As she stepped up to the table, she gathered the small amount of courage that she had and boldly asked, "Where are Kon and Kita? What've you done with them?"
Urahara's smile changed. It was slight but Tegan could immediately spot the difference. His smile had become more dangerous.
"Don't worry so, Little Tegan~" he practically sang in amusement, "Kita will be joining us shortly. As for Kon, why…" He held up a small green pod. "He's right here."
Tegan lunged for the soul bead but Urahara's reflexes were faster as his fist closed over Kon before she had gotten even a foot.
"Ah-ah-ah Tegan." Urahara's blue eyes gazed thoughtfully at her. "I have a proposition first."
Her own blue eyes stared coldly back. "What is it?"
Urahara practically purred as he leaned forward as though to divulge a great secret.
"I can cure you of your schizophrenia." He whispered lowly, eyelids drooping lazily as he stared at her.
Syketon glared at Kyvain over their locked blades even as he smirked back and casually commented. "I guess you should have just been faster then." He paused a moment before adding with a leer "That's what she said."
Not noticing Rukia's incredulous look at the last statement, Syke asked the next question on her mind.
"How long?"
Not bothering with any lewd jokes, Kyvain answered back just as seriously – "Years."
Withdrawing her sword, Syke stepped back a few feet before turning to the two siblings.
"And you?" She barked, her grip on the swords hilt tightening almost nervously.
Match shrugged. "Years." She confirmed. "But Pyro and I aren't shinigami."
Lowering her blade, Syke could only feebly ask 'why.'
Surprisingly, it was Pyro who gave the answer. "Because we didn't want to drag you into that world yet. We wanted to wait until the time was right but well… That didn't happen." He gestured to the robes that Syketon was wearing.
Syke bit her lower lip as she took this in before sheathing her zanpakuto.
"So, if you're not soul reapers then what are you?"
Pyro answered again all the while waving his hand dismissively. "Quincy. It's some ancient clan society that I really don't have the patience to explain right now."
Match turned to her brother with a shout. "It is not some ancient clan society, it's-"
"Sis, please. Not now." Pyro grumbled in annoyance.
Ignoring the now squabbling siblings, Syke turned towards Kyvain, who had also sheathed his zanpakuto.
She noticed that his uniform was different that hers. The sleeves of his jacket were nonexistent and instead of a white kimono underneath, Syke could see hints of green fabric. The hakama was the same as hers... His katana wasn't though. Its sheath was black but its hilt had an odd pattern of green and black that she couldn't quite make out.
"So…" She paused, unsure how to ask.
"How did I become a shinigami?" Kyvain finished for her.
Nodding hesitantly, Syketon crossed her arms, waiting for an answer.
Shrugging, Kyvain answered, "I was born one. Both of my parents were shinigami. It just got passed down." He smirked. "Pureblood shinigami. What do you make of that?"
Syke smirked back and answered smoothly, "It just gives further evidence to the puppy theory."
Kyvain's eyes narrowed. "Quack." He retorted back.
"I thought Tegan was the duck?"
"Tegan-" He paused dramatically "-is an octopus."
"Now that's just mean."
Kyvain shrugged.
"… Why is she an octopus?"
"'Cause I got her that octopus doll. Duh."
"… Kyvain. … Your reasoning sucks."
"Your face sucks."
"That's not what your dad said last night."
They both paused, eyeing each other with mock distrust before Kyvain conceded.
"Touché."
Syketon paused before asking, "So is that why you never introduced us to your dad - because he's a shinigami?"
Kyvain straightened as he answered honestly. "No – not because he was a shinigami – but rather…" His brow furrowed as he fought for an answer.
"It's because… my father… he uses people." He looked Syketon in the eyes. "He's the most intelligent and manipulative man you'll ever meet… but by the time you figure that out for yourself, he's already gotten what he wants."
Tegan could only gape as Urahara leaned back casually in his chair.
"Excuse me. What-" She fumbled for the right words even as Urahara smirked – and damn it all if that wasn't where Kyvain got it from.
Urahara began to repeat himself. "I can cure y-"
"- It's not even schizophrenia! The doctors-"
"-Are unaware of the spiritual world." Urahara finished smoothly.
"Oh. Ok. And please, do tell how exactly that qualifies you to-"
"The voices you are hearing are those of your zanpakuto." Urahara interjected the calm patience of an experienced parent dealing with irate children.
Tegan knew her jaw had dropped just as she knew her eyes had probably widened in equal parts of shock and disbelief.
"Z-zanpakuto? Like- like a Shinigami's…" she trailed off as she noticed Urahara beaming at her.
"So you do know about shinigami! Good. This will be much easier then." His expression turned serious – again throwing Tegan for a loop – what was with this guy…
"Here's my offer. I will help "cure" you and in exchange, I want you to work for me." He flipped open his fan to his face as his voice became cheerful. "I'll even train you as a bonus!"
Tegan swallowed the lump in her throat. She could be cured? After eight years of endless visits to hospitals and doctors, strange medications, and uncertainty in her life – she could be free of it all?
"What-" she licked her chapped lips, "What would working for you entail?"
To her relief, Urahara seemed to ponder the question seriously.
"Hmm. Well, hollow extermination mainly…. A few deliveries every now and then… And just helping around the shop."
She stared incredulously. "That's it?" she exclaimed, "That's all I have to do?"
Urahara snapped his fan shut and grinned at her. "I take it that this means we have a deal?"
"LIKE HELL YOU DO!"
Startled, Tegan turned to the doorway to see Kita glaring angrily at Urahara.
"You bastard." Kita hissed angrily and began to stalk forward – as Tegan began to edge backwards.
To Urahara's credit, he didn't even flinch as the upset teenager slammed her hands on the table and leaned towards him with teeth bared.
"You actually have the balls to just waltz into our lives and offer some shitty ass deal like that? I can't bel-"
Tegan interjected softly, cutting Kita off mid-rant as she turned to look at her quiet friend. "Kita."
Tegan gazed calmly at Urahara before looking back to Kita. "I want this, Kita." Her voice became more desperate. "I want a cure, Kita. I'm tired of wondering what is wrong with me. I just…" She turned towards Urahara. "What about Kon?"
Tilting his head to the side, Urahara questioned, "What about Kon?"
"I want- I want his safety guaranteed. You have to let him continue living with me and he needs his body back too."
Allowing a triumphant smile to slowly cross his lips, Urahara stood from his seat and turned towards the back wall. "I can do one better than that."
He called over his shoulder as he knelt to open a box, "I got this idea from a friend of mine. Been wanting a chance to test it out."
Kita and Tegan could only gape as he brought the object over to them.
Syketon collapsed on her couch that night – Rukia resting on a chair under the guise of a friend spending the night – and sighed in exhaustion. What a day.
She was reaching for the television remote when Jake's startled gasp caught her attention and she turned to see… a dog.
Tegan had brought home a large orange and white Akita. Gaping, Syketon turned towards Tegan for an explanation, who could only smile tiredly back and say, "Meet the newest member of the family – Kon."