Heyy all! Sorry for posting late! I wanted to update yesterday, but I had NO free time! I couldn't even finish all of my homework! I'm happy I got the chapter done though. :)
P.S. I'm going to try to update every Wednesday sometime after school. My other story, Unknown Destiny, will be updated every Friday starting next week! (only 2 chapters left to go!)
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Chapter 3: The Past Is Revealed
"Toshiro Hitsugaya?" my dad questions. "That name sounds familiar. How old are you anyway, and where did you come from if I may ask?"
Toshiro shrinks back a little bit at the questions and hesitates before saying, "I'm 18. As you can tell from my last name, I was born into a noble family. I did not live here before, but I recently came here after… events… happened."
Isshin looks at him, expecting more. "And?"
"Dad! Leave him alone! Let him rest for a while!" Yuzu cries. "Can't you tell that he doesn't want to talk about it?"
Isshin sighs in defeat. I quickly add, "I'm not much older than you. I'm 19 years old. Now go get rest."
He nods and closes his eyes. We all soon leave the room and do other things.
l~ ~ ~l
"Aaaah!" a shriek pierces the night. Yuzu, Karin, and Isshin went to bed and I'm the only one awake. I run to the clinic, and see Toshiro screaming, tears running down his face.
"Toshiro! Wake up! Toshiro!" I shout. Toshiro doesn't wake up. I rest his head against my chest and rub his back soothingly while whispering words of encouragement.
Eventually, he stops screaming and his tears lessen. I lay his head back down on the pillow and turn to walk away, when his arm shoots out and grabs my wrist.
"Don't go… Please…" he begs, his voice hoarse.
I carefully remove his hand from my wrist and put him against my chest again. He starts to cry again, but this time it's quiet sobs.
"It's okay. Cry as much as you want. I'm here, you are not alone." I whisper soothingly. Again, I start to rub his back. He eventually falls asleep in my arms. With utmost care, I lay him back down on his bed. I look at him and a small blush appears on my face. His face is peaceful when he sleeps. The corners of his mouth are turned upwards, as if he is smiling. I continue to gaze at him, as if I was in a trance. Subconsciously, I trace his face with my eyes until I memorize every detail about him. I then realize what I am doing and blush even deeper.
Creak. The door to a closet groans as I open it. I cringe, hoping I didn't wake up Toshiro. I sneak a peek at him and he still appears to be sleeping. I give out a sigh of relief and turn my attention back to the closet. I move some towels and doctor equipment until I find what I am looking for: a cot. Under it is a pillow and I find a blanket shoved into the corner. I lay the cot down on the floor and set up my bed. Within five minutes, the bed is ready, and I am asleep.
l~ ~ ~l
I open my eyes and the sounds of birds singing ring through my ears. I close them again, only to be interrupted.
"Ooof!" Isshin says. He tripped over my body and landed face-first on the ground. "Ichigo! Good morning!" he says, bouncing back up. The tile of the floor left an indentation on his face and is turning red. Nonetheless, Isshin is still smiling. I glare at him, get up, and fold the cot and blanket then put them back in the closet. Meanwhile, curious eyes follow my every move.
"'Morning, Toshiro. Are you feeling okay?" I ask, noticing that he is awake.
"It's none of your business. If I may, I will be leaving now."
"Oh no you don't. You aren't fully recovered yet, AND you are in no shape to be going anywhere on an empty stomach," Isshin points out.
Grooooaaaan. Toshiro's stomach growls at the mention of food.
l~ ~ ~l
"Thank you for making breakfast, Yuzu. It was delicious," I compliment.
"Your welcome, Oni-san!" Yuzu cleans up the dishes and then we all look expectantly at Toshiro.
"Toshiro… where did you come from?" Karin asks, taking the words from everyone's mouths'.
Toshiro looks sheepishly around and bows his head. "As I said yesterday, I was born into a noble family. There are 13 noble families, and I was born into the 10th family, known as the Hitsugaya's. Up until last year, we were the second wealthiest family. But then, everyone was murdered." Toshiro's eyes become clouded, as if he is in a different world.
~Flashback~
It was a day like every other. My parents were sitting outside under the cherry blossoms overlooking the pond. There was a crowd gathered behind them, ready to give out their 'good-mornings' and then head off to do their daily tasks.
All was peaceful, and my parents returned all of the 'good-mornings'. They were the nicest people on the planet.
"Mom, dad. Good morning. May I go over to the Hinamori household?"
"Sorry, Toshiro. We have plans today, remember?" Mom says as she shoots me an apologetic look. It is then replaced with a dazzling smile as she says, "As the heir of the Hitsugaya family, you need to attend the meeting today."
"I will be there." I say, hiding my excitement. I walk back to the house and ask the maids to prepare me breakfast. When I am done eating, I get changed into my best clothes, and finish preparing for the meeting.
By noon, I am ready for the meeting and I wait for my parents in the living room. A few minutes later they walk in and together we walk to the main room where the Elders are waiting.
l~ ~ ~l
I made it through my first meeting alive! I think to myself as I plop myself onto my bed, ready to sleep. It started at Noon and ended past dark… I change into my pajamas and fall asleep.
"AAAAH!" I bolt upright. Mom? I jump out of my bed and run through the house to get to her bedroom. As I near her door, I see a strange silhouette. I crouch low, keeping quiet. Quickly and quietly, I peer into my parent's room. They are both in bed, but a man is standing over them. Something shiny is in his hand. A knife! I carefully edge closer to the man. There is blood dripping from the knife. Frightened, my eyes make their way back to the bed. Blood is everywhere. Who got cut?!
"Run Toshiro! Don't look back! Run NOW!" Mom cries.
"Mom… Dad…" I sink to my knees. The man walks closer to me, picking me up by the collar of my pajamas. The knife comes dangerously close to my neck. In a flash, my whole life plays before me like some kind of movie. Tears start to fall. This is where it ends, I suppose. I close my eyes in defeat, awaiting my death.
All of a sudden, I fall to the ground with a loud THUD. My eyelids open, trying to figure out what happened. The sight before me sends chills up my back.
"Get away Toshiro! Please!" Mom begs. Her hands clutch her stomach, and with her last breath, she says, "I love you. I'm proud… to call you… my… son…" She collapses in a heap at the man's feet.
"MOM!" I want to run to her side, to make sure this is a dream. Before I can even move an inch, the man takes a step towards me and utters, "Your turn." He takes another deliberately slow step towards me. My body locks up, my nerves on end. I can't move; I'm paralyzed with fear.
'Get away Toshiro! Please!' The last words my mom spoke swirl around my mind. 'I love you. I'm proud… to call you… my… son…' Her words give me energy, and I run. I run to the front of the house. I pass countless bodies, all dead, unable to stop the murderer. I don't stop running. It could have been seconds or hours. I couldn't tell the difference anymore. All I know: My parents are dead. My family is dead.
And I'm next.
Was this chapter good? Did it make you cry? Please leave a review and again, sorry for the late update!
Thanks for reading!