Akari's POV:
"Now with the grocery shopping ready, I should be in my grandma's in no time, ugh since Iwayama and Arashi aren't in the workshop is more work, work and work for me and Oshiro-sensei, I didn't advance that much with the sword and I have less than a month to finish it, I need to study for the final tests, there are so many in such a short time, the ghosts recently are so incredible annoying, what the hell did I do to them?! But well I was able to do the medallion to Toushiro tho, I'm glad he like it and didn't say anything about my crush on him, that's better I don't think I can handle say that I like him… Wait… What?! Did I just say that out loud?!" I stopped suddenly my tracks and keep my mouth shut, looking my surroundings is somebody had payed attention my mumbling ramble, but everybody on the street seemed interested in their own business. Great.
Being a teenager sucks. A lot. I since I didn't have my headphones, I couldn't shut out the world.
I continued walking up the hill, wishing to be in the warmer and safe environment in my grandma's. I also continued, thinking, all the tasks I had to do in such short time. The semester was ending in 15 days, I had to make the sword in less than 22 days while doing the normal work in the shop that was on top with only now working Oshiro-sensei and I, because Arashi and Iwayama decided to quit out of nowhere and doing the medallion for Toushiro (A simpler gift, it was still a dragon but it was a medallion for a necklace, little and discrete, it was perfect) was an easy job, but still it was something that took my time. I felt that everything I was doing was falling behind and the exhaustion was killing me.
At that I was able to see a bunch of birds flying away. I sighed.
"Why I wasn't born an animal, like a bird" I continued talking to myself "I wouldn't even worry for the ghosts, like what would they do to me? As an animal? Probably nothing! I wouldn't have a freaking man or spirit or whatever following me!"
"Meow"
"I know right! It would be so much easier! No worries, no study just being an animal, looking for food!"
"Meow"
"Well yeah, the looking for food doesn't sound that great and finding shelter but there's always someone willing to keep a dog or cat or… wait cat?" I looked down at me to find that I wasn't talking completely alone, a black cat with really bright yellow eyes was following me and now staring at me like understanding everything. After a second of doubt, I kneeled in front of the cat with a big smile ready to pet it, if it let me.
"Hello kitty!" Surprisingly the cat let me pet it and seemed incredible friendly. Probably it was from someone around "What are you doing outside in the cold? You would be better in a house, warm" Instead the cat seemed quite happy around me, getting closer to me "Hey, I don't have any fish here" The cat just purr under my hand, looking to get on top of me, probably it was cold. "Ok I let you come with me until your owner looks for you, but you have to keep quiet, Oba-san hates when I bring animals to the house" I said while lifting the cat and he/she? Was looking for a comfortable position in my arms.
When I reached the house, I was surprised to find some quiet murmur from the garden, probably my grandma had a visit, I didn't want to get on it, so I moved quietly, they wouldn't see me from where I was, I could just go to the kitchen, leave the things and then to my room. Quiet and simple. I forgot something.
I had a cat.
And cats tend to be assholes.
This one wasn't the exception.
The cat started meowing like she/he knew I was trying to avoid the situation, I started shushing at him/her when it started to get loud.
"Where's Yoruichi? It wasn't here a moment ago?" I heard my grandma's voice from afar.
"It was!" Responded a rather friendly but male voice I didn't recognize at all, it didn't sound like an old man.
Another long and loud "meow" came from the cat, Yoruichi must be, probably looking from its owner, but didn't seem interested at all in looking for him, it was now stuck at me.
"What's wrong with you?" I said low at Yoruichi while it keep meowing with what it looked like a grin. This cat was fucking me around "I don't want them to find me!" I keep trying to get it out, but its claws were stuck in my clothes "You stupid cat!" I managed to hold the cat in front of me, I seriously thought that was making fun of me.
"Oh Yoruichi-san!~" The damage was done. Steps sounded heavy and closer against the wood I just sighed and let Yoruichi on the floor.
I started putting the food in its place while Yoruichi just keep looking at me.
"Yoruichi-san! You always go away when I'm not looking!" I heard the male voice saying behind me and for my surprise when I turned around, I found a man around the same age of my father and around the same height, holding the cat up in the air with a big smile. His appearance was quite particular too. Long pale blond hair cut up the chin, I couldn't see his eyes under the green and white stipe hat, his attire consisted in a green shirt and pants under a dark haori, I imagine that the wood sandals in the entrance were his because he was barefoot. But was more intriguing was when I finally catch to see his face, he had an eye patch covering his right side. I usually don't judge people with scars or something covering, hell I'm like that, but something about this man seemed quite off.
As if he knew that I was inspecting him, the man looked at me while taking the cat in his arms, he keep smiling but there was something about his look that told me to be careful around him. I didn't know if it was the cold or his look what make me shiver.
"Akari, staring at people is impolite, I didn't raise you like that and I'm sure your father didn't too" My grandma's was now beside the man, looking tinier than she already is.
"Sorry Oba-san" I said a little embarrassed and continued putting the food in the fridge.
"Oh! This is Akari-chan! But you have grown up so much!" The man said with the same gleeful tone. The bag was empty, so now I could watch my grandma with a curious look. She wasn't happy, looked more annoyed? About the situation, I didn't understand where this man met me "Oh! Now I'm impolite, I apologize! My name is Urahara Kisuke, I was friend of your mother"
"What?! From Okaa-san?" I looked again at my grandma more confused. She just sighed.
"Prepare some tea, Alice-san is doing something and we can't keep the visit without food or something to drink" And that's how my grandma leave the room and avoid the conversation.
"Minagawa-san you shouldn't be moving that much, don't you think?" Said the man, Urahara, following her back, taking Yoruichi with him that keep looking at me with a lot of emotion, like it was human.
"Don't tell me what to do, Kisuke!" My grandma replied from afar.
I stood there wondering how my mom knew that character. Seemed like I was going to know soon.
After a few minutes, I was with a more comfortable set of clothes for the house but still completely covered for the cold, taking the tea and sweets to the porch in the garden, where Urahara and my grandma were, I put everything in the table and served how my grandma teach me, some little tradition that I actually learned and liked it. While doing it I felt the look of Urahara that actually make me quite nervous, when I was done, I sit in the middle of them and in short time I had Yoruichi on top of me, getting itself very comfortable in my legs.
"Seems that Yoruichi likes you" The man said taking a sip from his tea.
"I had that effect in animals" I said petting the cat behind its ear, feeling it purring.
"Like Minagawa-san! You resemble a lot like your mother Minagawa-chan" Urahara continued.
"Please call me Akari, Urahara-san, I'll get confused with Oba-san" I said smiling a bit.
"I don't work that way, maybe like Richards-chan?" He said quite apologetic.
"I feel like you are talking to my dad, but it works, I guess" I really hated that about the Japanese culture, I have a name! Why not use it? "You say that I look like Okaa-san?"
"Oh yes, Minagawa-chan was one that attracted animals too and you do look like her, except for the hair" Urahara continued still smiling.
I could remember how my father always said that my mom attracted animals, especially when they starting to date, he said that it was because she was always warm at the touch, I didn't notice that connection until now.
"Akari-chan is like a reflection of her mother" My grandma continued, she always said that "Even in aspects I don't want her to be" I knew that she referred about the spirits things, but of course I couldn't say that out loud.
He nodded, probably to try to comprehend the situation, but didn't say anything.
"Where do you know Okaa-san?" I asked at the man after taking a sip of my tea. It was a question that was eating me a lot.
"Oh! She use to come a lot to my shop! When she was younger" He simply said.
"Shop?" I asked.
"Kisuke's owns a candy shop in the skirts of the town, Kimiko-chan used to go there a lot" My grandma answered, without looking at me or the man. She was strangely quiet for the chat.
"But… When Okaa-san was young you used to live in Shibuya right?" I keep asking, I couldn't see the connection.
"Yeah, but she meet Kisuke when she was in the University, we were back here" She continued.
"Exactly! Oh happy and gleeful Minagawa-chan, always happy to received her in my store" The man said with a big smile.
"I see…" Still everything sounded vague but I didn't say anything else.
"Oh!" Suddenly Urahara got closer to me to inspect something "You still have the sun!"
"I… what?" I got apart from the sudden closeness, looking at him curious.
"The necklace, you still have it!" He make distance between us and pointed at my neck, were I touch the jewel of the sun.
"I-I do, how do you-?" I started to ask.
"How do I know? I give it to you! Well, to your mother, but it was meant to you" He said still gleeful.
"You give this to my mother?" Now I took the sun, more surprised by it. This was the last gift from my mom and he was the one that give it to her? What? He was not just a candy shop owner.
"Oh yes, Minagawa-chan always said that she wanted something especial for you and that you always wear it, I'm glad you keep using it, it has a charm with it"
I didn't know is it was obvious my uneasy feeling, or it was just to Yoruichi, because I felt how the cat started caressing me with its paws and purring. I started to pet her and looked down to see the cat with its bright eyes, looking me quite reassuring.
"I apologize if I'm making uncomfortable, it must be weird for you that a stranger it telling you this things I imagine, Richards-chan?" I looked up shyly to him and he was again with an apologetic smile.
"Sort of…"
"That's because Kisuke never got tact to talk to people and never visits" My grandma talking again, make me remind me that she was there, looking back at her she was sending a murderous look to Urahara's.
"I've been busy, Minagawa-san! The shop is been busy and difficult lately! Especially with charms for spirits and that, you wouldn't believe how many ghost are around there lately!"
I almost spited the tea I had in my mouth. I managed to drink it and just coughed.
"Kisuke, I'm old and experienced I know exactly when you are lying, I have known you long enough" My grandma continued without seemed surprised about the thing that the man talked about ghost?! Or that was the part that he was lying about.
"Now, now, you know I don't lie… I just don't tell the information completely!" Urahara said showing his smile. And without him or me expecting it, my grandma took out her fan from her sleeve.
And hit Urahara in the head, throwing the hat on the floor and scaring the shit out of me. Yoruichi seemed like enjoying the show.
"You don't came to THIS house after almost 15 years and you come to SAY THOSE THINGS?!"
Now I knew why my grandma was so quiet. She was holding the anger. She now seemed mad at him.
And then she asks where I got my temper.
The round of hits with the fan continued for a few minutes, my grandma charging with all her wrath and Urahara… just let the hits pass. They must know each other very well, for her to act like this and my grandma probably felt betrayed that he didn't visited or communicated for that long, because I seriously never saw that man in my life for what I remember.
In their one side fight I look for the hat before it went flying away. When I grab it something in my head say: hey, this does look familiar. Why?
"Akari don't take that, is not yours" My father was looking at me with tired eyes, he wasn't smiling like he used to.
"But it's a cool hat daddy!" I said in English, I was around five years old, I used to talk only in that language back then.
"I don't mind, she can take it while we talk to Minagawa-chan" Another blond man with thick accent responded in English, he was accompanied with a pretty brunette woman.
"You see! Urarara don't mind!" I said while putting the big hat in my little head. While Urahara's smiled down at me, before entering to the room where my mom rested in the hospital.
I moved the hat around with my hand, feeling the urge to put it in my head like that memory. But felt embarrassed when I noticed that the fight had stopped and were looking curious at me.
"I used to call you Urarara?" I said returning the hat to him, he smiled gently and for the first time in that evening I could tell that it was a sincere.
"Ah yes, I imagine it was the language barrier, how do you remember?" He asked kindly.
"The hat, I remember the hospital Okaa-san was and that I wanted to keep the hat, you were seeing Okaa-san with a brunette woman" I answered while he was putting his hat.
"Ah! What a great memory you have!" He said "Yes, I visited your mother a few times in the hospital, you were always there!"
"Oh I see, I don't remember that much neither" I had more memories of my mom when she was a ghost than living, is quite bizarre I know "You said that you sell charm for spirits?" I decided to change the conversation, my grandma was back in her spot looking more… relaxed.
"Oh yes! That's why Minagawa-chan used to come to the shop! I understand that your family have a strong sense of noticing spirits!" He said so calmly like talking about the weather "I can sense them too, that's why I decided to do some charms and sell it!"
That make sense… I guess.
"It sounds useful, in some way" I started thinking about if something could help me of what he sell. Yoruichi resting in my legs seemed sleep except for its tail moving softly.
"That's why you are here Kisuke? For selling us things?" My grandma asked abruptly. Ok she didn't like Urahara that much, it was official.
"Before you hit me with your fan again, I'm going to confirm some of it! I do bring some charms but I'll not sell it to you, take it as a gift for not visit all this time" He said while putting a little box that I didn't knew he had in the table "I'll tell you which one is for you and which for your grandma but we can do that later! I actually came to visit wondering what happened to that old katana, were you able to repair it?"
"Why are you interested in that?" My grandma responded before I could react my shock. Did he even knew about the katana?
"I always said that I was able to repair it and sell it! In the end is a broken piece of junk that you shouldn't be worried about!"
"Is not a broken piece of junk!" I shouted before I could stop myself. You don't come to this house to say those things about a fine work of blacksmithing.
"Oh!" Out of nowhere took out a fan and put it to hide his face, only visible the grey eye seemed amused "My fault, I didn't that there was a new owner and that owner like that art"
"I'm restoring it to its original glory" I said, with my head up with pride.
"You are restoring it?" It was a genuine surprise coming from the man.
"She is, Akari-chan has been working in a workshop for what now? Almost three years?" My grandma back me up with a smile and sounding proud. That make me smile.
"You must have a great talent for doing it! I understand that only certain people could repair it" I didn't know what was in his tone as suggesting something, but I didn't understand it and my grandma didn't seemed affected by his words.
"She is really good about it, that reminds me, how are you going with it Akari-chan?" She asked to center the attention back to me. Why the change, I didn't know, there was something off about this reunion that I couldn't make.
"Well! The hilt is almost complete! Working with the gold wasn't that difficult I'm used to to work with it, the yarn was tricky because it didn't follow a normal pattern of the katanas, but it's ready, the medallion is rusty but doesn't need a change, just a cleanup, it will be the last and the blade we are actually waiting for when I finish to continue, we had the form but now is making the resistance and everything and that's continuous work, I'll probably had to stay in Oshiro-sensei house while doing it" I usually kept little updates to her, but for different reasons I wasn't able to do it recently "I hope I can actually finish for my birthday"
"What a hardworking granddaughter you have Minagawa-san!" Urahara said, it was a good compliment I couldn't deny it "I've intrude if I ask for any pictures of how you are going?" He seemed genuinely interested.
"I- Sure, I must have something in my phone" I looked inside the pocket of the sweater the phone with the cracked screen and look if I had a recent picture of the work. When I found the folder with it I put the most recent and pass it to Urahara, as he took it, Yoruichi seemed bored to be in my legs and went to its owner and put itself in his back to watch the cellphone.
"What an impressive work!" Urahara said while passing the pictures, Yoruichi meowed in response, what did it mean? I hope it mean that it was a nice job.
"Thanks!" I replied with my biggest smile. Urahara was a strange man, but it didn't mean that I wouldn't accept compliments from him.
"These kids today have more talent than us, don't you think that Minagawa-san?" He said joking at my grandma's that only mumble something before drink the tea that I couldn't heard, then pass me my phone. "I think you will able to make it before your birthday, Richards-chan"
There was a sudden "beep" sound that came from him. He took out an old flip phone and look whatever message he had received.
"Oh my! Well ladies, I think my visit is a short one" He said standing up "I'm need it in my shop"
"How unfortunate" My grandma said putting her sarcastic voice.
"I know right?" He did notice the tone, but just followed the game "If you excuse me, goodbye Minagawa-san" He bowed a little and I stand up to say goodbye, noticing that my grandma wasn't going to do it.
We walked side by side without saying anything.
"Oh, Urahara-san" I said remembering when we were in the entrance and he put his sandals, he looked at me curious "What about the charms? You didn't say which one was for which"
"Don't worry, it has your names in it, just be sure that Minagawa-san doesn't throw it away" He said now carrying Yoruichi with him.
"I will, thank you for visiting us and I hope we can see you soon" I bowed as a farewell.
"I'm sure we will see each other soon, if not, my shop is always open for you Richards-chan" He move his hat like a bow and then went through the door with serious smile.
I was quite scared about how certain was going to be that I was going to see him soon.
It's a Christmas miracle! :D Hi everybody!
I like to say that I'm inspired and I should be writing a lot for the next days, because inspirations YESSSS.
I want to thanks a lot to all the new followers and some users that also put my story in favorite REALLY THANK YOU SO MUCH! And also I reached the 1000 views! OMGOMGOMG
Really thank you so much! I'm so happy that you all are enjoying the story!
But well, this is the chapter for today! Again if you want to write something for review, if you like Akari or my other characters or anything, you are welcome to do it!
A SUPER BIG HUG TO EVERYBODY READING THIS
Happy holidays! :D:D:D:D