The Death and Times of Keigo Asano
Chapter 2: Awakened in a Strange Land
Keigo Asano was not the most popular guy, people had always thought of him as stupid, weak and spineless. Yet here he was defending some little kid he didn't know from some weird monster, 'A hollow?' He didn't know how he knew that word. The child was dirty and beaten up. Keigo himself didn't have a weapon he wasn't sure why he jumped in when the monster attacked...
...A few weeks earlier the boy woke up on an dirt covered road. He didn't know why he was lying in the road, or even how he had gotten there. All he remembered was some big guy kicking him in the gut and telling him to move out of the way. Some how he felt that this was natural, so he begged an apology and moved as quickly as he could.
He thought on it for a bit and realized he didn't really remember anything before being rudely awakened by the foot of some fat bully.
"Keigo Asano?" he did remember that one scrap of information. He decided that was his name. One other thing, not really a memory, a feeling he that he had made a promise to somebody. He couldn't remember who he promised or what he promised it drove him nuts. He thought things were weird it couldn't put his finger on it. He was wearing a short Kimono. It made him feel self-conscious. It was shabby and dirty, 'I feel like I robbed a hobo, or I am a hobo.'
He walked around for days wondering why he was there. He noticed not long after he woke up that he was hungry. He had the idea that stealing wasn't one of his many talents, but working he knew he was capable of that. Even if he dreaded the idea of actually doing work. Starving to death was certainly not an option he liked to consider.
He was surprised to find many people didn't seem to eat in this place, 'I mean they don't eat ever!'
Finding a place that was willing to pay him for work was not much easier. People mostly just sat and did nothing. Finally his searching brought him to a place where he actually smelled food. He was surprised he had started to think he must be crazy.
A kind looking woman offered him some bread, "Only if you have need of any work, I'm not going to take charity," He smiled. 'What are you crazy you idiot? You are starving don't turn down free food,' He was screaming at himself internally. The woman's smile faltered for a bit. 'See you ass now you scared her she wont share any of her food!'
He was wrong, the woman looked kindly on him, "First you eat then we will talk about work. Agreed?" he nodded thankfully and took the food, "What's your name? Do you know it?"
'What a weird question to ask of course I know my name,' part of him said as he greedily scarfed down the bread, another part said, 'Not so weird considering you don't remember anything else about yourself.' His head hurt he felt sure thinking this much must be out of character for him.
He gulped his food and blushed, "I'm sorry, My name is Keigo Asano ma'am."
"Nice to meet you Keigo Asano," The old woman smiled, "My name is Miriam, but everybody calls me Granny Mim." Keigo blushed it was a sweet name and he liked the old lady she seemed very kind in the contrast to many of the people Keigo had met. He was starting to think there were no nice people in this place.
She broke in to his thoughts again, "About the work...I do think I could use help around here. I'm a bread maker by trade."
She saw the boy's look of surprise, she chuckled, "I know it is a strange profession. It is strange to have a profession. Most souls occupy their time with doing nothing. Most souls don't need to eat to survive here," as she was explaining she saw the boy's face become confused. She saw fear as she knew he realized what she was saying.
"Souls, don't you mean people. You mean living souls right?" He knew the answer.
"I'm sorry son, no. We have passed on this is what comes after you die in the living world. It can be a hard second life. I decided to make the best of my second life instead of wasting it bickering and fighting," the woman patted his hand gently, "Like so many others have chosen to do."
Her smile faltered. Keigo decided to break in, "So if most souls don't eat, then Who do you make the bread for? And why have I been so hungry since I got here?"
"You are pretty bright, You and I are not normal souls. We have to eat. And I make bread for the soul-society." Her face darkened a bit at their mention.
"Soul-society?" His curiosity was peeked.
"The seireitei, is that way," She Pointed to the east where the sky was already in twilight, "It would be good to avoid it if you can help it. I make bread for the soul-reapers. I have little choice in the matter. They pay me and provide the ingredients so I can make the bread and a few other baked goods for them," They send someone to get bread once a week and they bring my payment and the ingredients I need about once a month.
"Granny Mim? Why don't you like the soul-reapers?" She liked that he had taken to calling her granny so quickly, but she sighed, 'After all he is a young man and the fighting and excitement would be a draw for him.'
"They are dangerous souls. They are supposed to protect the Soul-society and us. They do not always do the latter." That was all she planned on saying. Fortunately, Keigo was being unusually perceptive lately.
He simply said, "Oh. Um so Granny Mim what kind of work do you want me to do?" He smiled. He felt working would not be half so bad. His new boss seemed really kind.
"No, we won't discuss work anymore today. You look like you have been walking for days. You need to go take a bath and get some sleep. Work can start in the morning." He had been walking for days. He thanked her with his loyal greenish brown eyes. She blushed, because those eyes were so beautiful. She showed him into the house and where he could find water to wash with. Then she left him to clean up. She gave him a spare futon and he found a comfortably warm spot close to her kitchen. He fell asleep as soon as he laid down.
In the morning He woke up and as promised she had work waiting for him. It was hard he had to scrub the floors, chop firewood for the oven and wash pots and pans, but for his lunch he had more of her delicious bread, and even some hot soup. It tasted better then anything he remembered, since he didn't remember eating anything before the previous day you could say it was not much of a complement. But it was the comment that hung in his headd. He settled by telling her it was the best meal he had ever eaten.
Keigo was too busy for his hyper nature to get the better of him. She kept him busy. He slept well every night. He was even getting stronger. Chopping firewood then carrying it in every morning and afternoon would do that for a guy. He wondered how the old lady had got by without him. He supposed she was spry enough to scrub floors pots and pans, but chopping fire wood. Maybe some of the other villagers helped her out. He was not sure. Some of them did seem nice enough, but most of them were regular souls who didn't need to work for food. He shrugged it off and dropped the thought, 'It doesn't matter anymore, Granny has me now.' He smiled at the thought that someone needed him, 'You know it feels nice to be needed.'
He was working for her for a little over a month. She gave him breaks and he had days off. He would just chop extra fire wood the previous night and make sure there was plenty of it stacked by the big oven.
It was on his day off that he heard screams for help. He didn't know why he answered the calls. Something in him made him do it. Now he was trying to hold off this demonic looking monster wishing he had the hatchet so he could at least smash the things ugly mask. He didn't know why instinct told him that was it's weakness.
"Hey Yumichika, I'm pretty bored I think I'm gonna go look for a fight. You wanna come?" Ikkaku asked almost not seeming to care if his friend went, but he'd like to have a witness and also someone willing to haul his carcass back if he was to tired to do it himself.
"Well I was just planning on sitting here watching the grass grow, but if you insist," He got up, "If we find a really good looking opponent can I have them?" Ikkaku never knew which direction his metro sexual friend swung, he seemed to like both men and women as long as they were, as he put it, beautiful. Ikkaku shrugged. He didn't care what his opponent looked like as long as they were strong.'
That was why they left the seireitei, but once they found the scene playing out below them they forgot about their mission to find some fun.
"Hey, Ikkaku. Check that out. That soul down there. He is fighting a hollow," he had an evil smirk. "Let's watch."
"Why not just jump in and save the guy," Some times Yumichika had a sadistic streak that Ikkaku could appreciate, but looking at the scene the, guy was really just a kid and there was a small child fleeing the scene. The guy looked really familiar too. That was odd. He didn't associate outside of the soul society except for the occasional 'ass kicking' excursions. He and Yumichika took.
Getting closer he saw the kid with light brown hair and green eyes. The boy was pinned the monster trying to nip his head off, but the boy was holding it off, bare handed no less. The kid was trying to land a punch and at the same time hold the thing off. There was fear in his eyes, but there was anger there too.
"Hey, He reminds me of someone," Yumichika spoke up, "Those eyes. I remember that shade of green. The face isn't that bad to look at either."
"Hey you aren't going to gay on that poor kid are you."
"What would you care it's not like you are jumping in to help him."
"Give him a minute. I think he's going to..." he trailed off. The kid actually managed to land a punch square in the middle of the things mask. It started to crack, but Keigo also lost his leverage; holding the beast at bay was no longer possible. That was when Ikkaku decided to step in. He slashed the hollow once through the mask. It really was a weak hollow, but that a mere untrained soul put a crack in the thing's mask bare handed Ikkaku had to hand it to the kid.
Now both Ikkaku and Yumichika were looking at the kid. It couldn't be, but here he was.
The boy lost his patience, "What are you two looking at? You never seen a guy almost get eaten by a monster before?" Ikkaku wasn't sure now. Asano didn't have much of a spine to speak of and this guy saw panting fear still in his eyes. Practically on his back. Yet he was yelling at two soul-reapers.
Ikkaku thought he'd try it anyway, "Hey, Asano. What are you doing here?" He saw the shocked expression. The boy pointing an accusing finger at Ikkaku. "How do you know my name?"
Yumichika looked at Ikkaku, then he studied the boy's face, Ikkaku smirked as Keigo started to throw one of his signature hiss fits, "What arrrre you starrrrrring attttttt!" He hopped up like he had not almost been eaten and stommped the ground, "You two give me the creeps. Get lost you perverts!"
Ikkaku laughed, Yumichika rolled his eyes, "They realized he could not possibly remember them now that he was dead, but it was still kind of irritating."
"What are you laughing at cue-ball!" Keigo stuck out his tongue. Yumichika thought the gesture was kind of cute.
Ikkaku didn't however he lifted the boy off the ground by his kimono, "What did you call me."
"What? Did I hit a nerve," The boy smiled in satisfaction, oblivious to how close he was to losing his head.
Yumichika was ready to intervene when Ikkaku started laughing hysterically, "I didn't know they handed out balls when you die, or did you grow 'em yourself.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" The soul-reapers supposed that was suppose to sound threatening, but the boy was pouting. Yumichika also found this incredibly cute, though he hated to admit it.
They took him back to Granny Mim, she curtly thanked the two for rescuing Keigo. She was really cold, but offered them some bread and soup. They declined, but Keigo insisted warmly, "After all you guys did just save me." He smiled so warmly, when only ten minutes earlier he was screaming at them.
"That Kid's a piece of work, but you have got to admit he's got guts," Ikkaku smiled, "He should go to the academy."
"Wasn't he friends with Ichigo Kurosaki?" Yumichika unusually thoughtful, "You think he should know the boy is here."
"Well the kid said he has been here for over a month, so I bet the guy knows he's dead."
"That's not what I meant. Maybe the substitute soul reaper would like to know his friend is safe," Ikkaku looked at his long time friend in disbelief.
"What's gotten into you, you going soft?"
"No- no! I'm not! I just feel sorry for the kid, that's all!" Yumichika protested.
"Then why are you blushing?" Ikkaku smirked poking fun at his friend.
"I'm bored with this conversation," The effeminate man left in a huff.
"Yeah, well it might be nice for the kid to know his friend is ok, even if his friend has no memory of him."