Chapter 10

We said our goodbyes to mum before she left and decided to stay in the living room for the whole day, looking through books, trying to get as much information on the Dark Prince as possible.

"Do we have a strategy?" Takashi asked as Kyouhei changed the channel to a horror movie and pretended to be scared by leaping onto his twin's lap and squealing which lifted everyone's spirits.

"Just wade it out. What about work?" I said and Haruka snorted.

"We all called into our jobs and got a week off for family holidays. We'll be hanging around the school as well. Just in case he decides to show." Haruka informed and I nodded before slumping into the couch with Takashi.

"But don't worry. We'll make sure that doesn't happen." Kyouhei said.

"That makes me feel so much better. Protect my ass while you get yourselves killed." I said sarcastically.

"Well... we, uh..."

"We can't do anything except make sure he doesn't get you." Takashi explained and I looked up at him.

"Hey, why don't we get your Soul Reaper friend to look around?" Kyouhei asked and Daijiro snorted.

"He's busy fighting Hollows. Besides, all he'll do is get in our way," Daijiro said simply and I threw the cushion at him.

"If it wasn't for him, I'd be with Kane by now!" I snapped.

"What matters is that he'll be a valuable ally as well as his friends but we shouldn't rely on them because if we don't make it, they won't stand a chance." Takashi stood up and began to pace.

"Did you find any weaknesses on this guy?" Haruka asked and I shook my head.

"Nothing. So we're gonna wing it and guess his weakness is his heart, like most beings."

"And you." Daijiro muttered.

"Yeah, okay, me as well. If he starts to become a threat to the town, then we take action. We don't want to take any unnecessary risks."

"I always thought you should be the eldest. You've got your head screwed on more than us." Kyouhei informed.

"I've got my head screwed on more than you, that's for sure." I said and Haruka snickered.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Daijiro asked.

"I wanted to stay here and relax. We can't do much but wait until something happens."

"What do we do if you're captured?" Kyouhei asked and Takashi spoke before me.

"We can't do anything if he takes her to the Soul Society. Then it becomes the Soul Reapers problem." Takashi began.

"And while they're up their creating havoc..."

"There's not going to be many Soul Reapers being sent back and forth to the World of the Living. And we won't be able to create a Senkaimon without a Zanpakuto. We have to make sure he doesn't get her at all costs."

"And what do we do if she's been caught?" Daijiro asked.

"We should stake ourselves. Kill us off for good. A thing like protecting one person shouldn't be so hard."

"Takashi, we are talking about our sister, right?" Kyouhei said.

"What are you getting at?" Takashi snapped.

"She'll run straight into the fight and end up getting her ass kicked to the curb and then dragged some place. We may have protected her but there's no way in hell would she stand back and watch a fight without doing something brash and stupid!"

"Well do you have another plan?!"

"No, but I would appreciate it if I kept living to pass down the family name!"

"Please excuse me but I'm going to hang myself." I said abruptly and stormed out of the room as the argument escalated. No one seemed to know I had gone. Even after I had closed the basement door behind me and walked down the incredibly creaky stairs.

I love my brothers to death but they can be so incredibly stupid, I thought to myself as I sat down behind some boxes as my name was being called upstairs. I stand correct.

I heard the basement door open and someone rush down the stairs.

"Seika? You down here?" Haruka called and I kicked my legs out from behind the boxes to reveal my hiding spot. "What are you doing?"

"Avoiding the carnage between my dear brothers," I informed although he would think that a box was talking to him.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

I stood up and dusted myself off. "What it means is that I left after those two... idiots decided to rip each other's head off. As long as I'm awake, I can handle myself."

"And I'm not protesting, but I would very much appreciate it if you started putting yourself first instead of others. You're very strong willed and beautiful and intelligent but you always put yourself in danger for others. Well, let others put themselves in danger for you," Haruka explained and I stared at him before Takashi started clapping at the stairs.

"I couldn't have said it better myself. Although a little too... protective for my tastes, I must say that was a fine speech coming from you, Haruka." Takashi grinned.

"Those were private words between me and Seika, brother."

"Come back up, there's a good movie on TV. Daijiro's cooking."

"Why are you so happy?" I asked as we walked up the stairs.

"This cute red head's here. She wants to talk with you."

Cute red head? That must be Orihime, I thought and pushed passed Takashi before seeing the beautiful Orihime sitting in the living room, listening to one of Haruka's mind blowing stories.

"Hey, Orihime, what's up?" I smiled and she smiled back.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about some things," she said sheepishly.

"Anyone who saves my life can talk to me anytime. We can talk in my room," I replied and led her up the stairs before letting her walk into my room first so I could close the door behind us, noticing that Haruka had closed the curtains. "What did you want to talk about?"

"I wanted to know you were okay. You were so torn when you said that your dad had died and I just wanted to see how you were doing today."

"I guess preparing for Kane sort of made me forget. I'm going to make sure that I'm the one that kills him, for my father's sake and honour. And the worst part is that Kane only killed him because of me."

"Don't say things like that!" Orihime gasped and we sat on my bed. "I want to you to know that I'm here for you. And I don't care how hopelessly broken you get. I'll heal it all."

"You have an amazing gift and a kind hearted soul. I don't know you very well but I honestly don't know what I would do if I had never met you. You're one of the greatest and most generous people that I know so far and I'll do everything to make sure you don't die, no matter how hard the fight."

"Seika, that's so–"

Orihime was cut off by the tapping on my window which scared us both. I crawled over my bed and pulled open the curtains to see Ichigo, a Renji Abarai, and Rukia all as Soul Reapers.

"In one day, I was nearly killed, worked out who tried to kill me, and is having a party that I didn't even know about." I muttered as I pulled open the window to let them in.

"Orihime. What are you doing here?" Ichigo asked and I crossed my arms over my chest.

"I could ask you the same question, Ichigo." I smirked. "So the new guy's a Soul Reaper?"

"Seika, this is Renji." Ichigo informed and I shook hands with the tall guy.

"So you're the girl who helped break up the fight. You're not a bad looker either." He smiled and Rukia grabbed him by the ear and dragged him away.

"So why are you here?" I asked.

"It seems that your Dark Prince brought some friends with him. We encountered them not far from here," Rukia explained and I slammed the window shut before drawing the curtains shut and then racing back to the bed. I then leant over the side and pulled out a small brown leather pouch.

"Did they say their names?"

"Not that I know of. Why?"

"Did they have any specific powers?"

"Why do you want to–"

"This is very important! What did they look like and what were their abilities?" I snapped, cutting Renji off.

"Twins. A girl and a boy with white hair," Ichigo began and I whipped around to face him.

"Abilities?"

"I know the girl used fire," Renji said and my heart sank before I yanked open my bedroom door.

"Takashi! Get your ass here now!" I screamed and ran down the stairs as Takashi and the others spilled out of the living room.

"What happened? Is he here?" Takashi said and I threw him the pouch.

"Worse. Kori and Kasai."

Takashi's grim expression grew grimmer before I opened the pouch and five small clear glass marbles fell out. My brothers and I each took one before separating.

"Orihime, you stay in the house with Renji. Rukia and Ichigo, you're coming up to the roof with me." I explained

"So, what are we doing up here again?" Ichigo questioned and I glared at the back of his head.

"Stay focused. I'm the strongest of my siblings so I have to go to the highest point of the house. And because I'm also the one in the greatest danger, I need people to look out for me." I informed and scratched my neck.

"So who are Kori and Kasai?" Rukia asked.

"They're the embodiment of fire and ice gathered together to form living vessels. There may be ice and fire Zanpakutos of the oldest and the strongest, but these guys will make them look like little sticks compared to what they can do."

"And what are we doing exactly?"

"Casting an old spell created by the Ancestors." I explained and got into position. "Takashi! You guys ready?!"

I heard a muffled 'do it now!' before four thin threads of light seeped from each corner of the house.

"Frosted heavens over sunless dreams. We cast this circle over the five lives that have sworn warriors to the greatest! Cast your protection over us, Atsuka, and claim what is rightfully yours!" I screamed and dropped to the roof, smashing the marble on the tiles. It shattered into dust before a thin white thread appeared from the remains and joined onto the others, creating a bubble briefly and then disappearing.

"Is that it?" Ichigo asked and I grabbed his hand before pulling it over his head so his fingers streamed through the invisible barrier.

"The barrier stays in constant motion, like a gently flowing stream. As long as one of my brothers and I stay in here, the barrier should stay up."

"And what happens if those guys come here?"

"They can come in except their powers are stripped from them for the amount of time that they remain under the barrier. However, I'm not sure about Kane."

I spotted Daijiro climb up with Renji leaping up behind him. The slowly setting sun was a pleasant sight.

"Everything's done. Let's just hope they're only here to observe and not collect." Daijiro stated and placed a warm hand on my shoulder. "Come inside, Seika. Your friends can join us for dinner if they want."

"Oh, yes, please!" Renji exclaimed and Ichigo looked at him weirdly.

"The rest of you can go. I just want some alone time," I said and Ichigo went to object when Daijiro slung his arm over his shoulder.

"Don't worry about her. She's a toughie." Daijiro explained and dropped back into the tree with the Soul Reapers following behind him.

I laid down on the roof and gazed out at the forming stars. It must be nice to be a star, not having a care in the world about what happens. Or what if each individual star was a god? It would be nice to meet a god rather than create one, I guess.

"I would say that the sky is beautiful but I've spent centuries of staring up at it for so long, I guess I've grown used to it." A voice said but I didn't move.

"I was expecting you. How long are you going to watch me, Kane?" I asked.

"Until you answer your true calling and come to me." Kane informed and sat beside me.

"Well, then you might as well pack up and leave."

"That is unnecessary. Because if you don't come with me by the end of the week, your loved ones will start to go missing. Just. Like. Your. Dad."

"Don't you dare bring anyone else into this anymore than what they are!" I snapped.

"I love it when I anger people. The rage subdues my hunger for the blood, you know?" He chuckled.

"How would I know? I'm not a blood driven narcissist."

"Such cruel words from a kind heart. It hurts me to see you so careless and cold."

"Maybe I should keep doing it until you're wiped out completely."

"Your heartbeat is so calm when you say those things, like you just don't care anymore. Why the change of heart?"

"You killed my father and I can never forgive you for that. Neither can I undo what has been done. The past is the past and I can't change that."

"But you can!" He exclaimed and rested himself over me. "If you come with me, I can bring your father back. Imagine it, running into your father's arms like nothing ever happened."

"Rewriting the past is not what I want, much less need." I informed him and noticed he was getting closer to me so I pushed him away. "And I don't need you."

"You'll learn to overcome your rage and greet me with open arms. Until then, I wish you goodnight."

"Goodbye," I growled and he laughed before disappearing into mist and then nothing.