Chapter 22

Katsu and Toshi

"What are you reading?" Toshi asked as she leaned over her brother's shoulder to get a look at the book in his hands. He pushed her head away from his shoulder.

"A book," he replied.

"I know the genius." Toshi replied. "What's the name of the book?"

"Romeo and Juliet," Katsu replied. Toshi laughed.

"Love sick idiot." She said.

"Love sick? This is a school assignment ToTo." Katsu said to his sister.

"Since when?" she asked.

"Remember, our tutor assigned this book to us yesterday. It's supposed to be a great piece of literature from the real world." he said. Toshi rolled her eyes again.

"Blah, reading is boring. I'll just ask the prince what it's about after your done reading it." Toshi said.

"Just because we share a spirit world doesn't mean that you can use my zanpakuto to cheat on our homework." Katsu said.

"It's not cheating" Toshi replied. "It's tutoring."

"It's cheating and you know it," he said it.

Katsu closed the book and stood from the place on the grass where he was sitting. he pushed his book into his school bag and headed into the house with Toshi hot on his heels.

"So since we're on the subject of the paradise," She started.

"We weren't on the subject." Katsu said bluntly.

"Well now we are." She replied. "When are we going back?"

"We can't," Katsu stated simply.

"Why not?" Toshi asked.

"Mom told us not to."

"Are you gonna listen to everything mom tells us to do?"

"Um…yes." He said

"You are the absolute worst." She said.

"Thank you for that." He said.

"Not a complement."

"You think I don't know that?"

"Katsu, we can't just keep them waiting like that." Toshi said.

"That'll understand." Katsu replied.

"No they won't!" Toshi pressed.

"Ugh, Fine! You wanna go we'll go!" Katsu yelled giving in to his sister wishes like he always did.

He grabbed Toshi by the hand harshly, she pulled back in response.

"Don't be difficult." He said. He took her other hand in his and closed his eyes. Toshi did the same.

"Clear your mind," Katsu intricate. His scatter brained sister's inability to focus was keeping them from getting into their inner world.

"They're back! They're back!" yelled a small fire headed girl as she jumped up and down in place.

"Calm down princess," said a much calmer brunette who was sitting beside her on the ground.

"I would but I can't I'm too excited!" she yelled. Flames pooled up around her feet and started to melt the thick patch of ice the two were on top of.

"Watch it will you?" scolded the prince. He focuses his energy and worked to replace the ice that the princess was melting with her fire.

"I don't even get how the two of you can survive in here together." Katsu said with a small smirk as he walked over to the prince and princess and sat down in front of them.

"Look Toshi! I made myself a new dress!" yelled the princess she twirled in place to give the girl a good look at her cloths. She wore a violet kimono that stopped just above her knees, it was held in place by a white obi decorated with light purple flowers.

"It's so pretty!" Toshi said.

"I made the prince's cloths to." She said.

"And for that I am grateful." he said from his seat on the ground. The outfit he was sporting was similar to the princess's minus the flowery embroidery and feminine cut. Instead of a deep purple his garments were a deep sea green color.

"So, are you ready?" asked the princess.

"I sure am." Toshi replied happily. The two girls broke into a sprint and ran off in a random direction, shooting fire and burning the ground underneath them as they ran.

"So abrasive," Said the prince.

"They're two of a kind." Katsu added.

"So, you're sister came to train. Did you?" the prince asked.

"Of course," Katsu replied.

"Watch your feet." the prince instructed.

"Don't you mean watch your head?" Katsu asked. the ground underneath him began to rumble and three giant stalagmites made of ice shot from the ground underneath his feet.

"I meant what I said." the prince replied simply.

"So, what's the name of the game this time?" Katsu asked.

"All you need to do to win is touch me." the prince replied.

"Sounds easy enough," Katsu replied.

"Are any of the games we play ever easy?" the prince asked with a wicked smile.

"No, they aren't." Katsu replied.

"Well, you better get to work then." Replied the prince.