Minato woke up and he didn't move a muscle. He just lay there, on his bed, and looked around. He sighed, as he realized it was actually time for him to wake up, and got out of bed. He walked to the mirror and noticed he was shirtless, but he didn't care. It wasn't as if he was living with a stranger woman. It was only Misaki, his younger idiot sister, and his father. He always called Misaki and idiot, even though he knew she was smarter than most people. It annoyed her, and being the normal big brother he was, he loved irking her, to his entertainment. Her anger was joy to him, and he knew that she wouldn't mean whatever insults she threw at him when she was mad. She loved him dearly, and he him.
And there was no need for them to prove it. It was an unspoken sibling rule. You fight all the time, but you love each other beyond levels imaginable. That was a true fact.
Minato walked downstairs and found that his sister was cooking breakfast. He cocked an eyebrow and sniffed the pan that had an egg in it. Minato 'bleh'ed and Misaki hit him playfully. The older boy chuckled, and ruffled her hair, and "No school?" Misaki shot him a glare and "Today's Sunday. Only you could ask someone whether they were going to school on a Sunday." Minato grimaced, "Alright, no need to get so worked up." He said, and walked to the bathroom.
As soon as he closed the door and latched it, he frowned. His mother's necklace was gone.
Minato knew what that necklace was. In fact, he knew about Misaki being able to see spirits and all. It was because, he could too. Misaki told him she could see spirits when they were younger, and Minato listened to her. He just didn't tell her that he could see them too, as he didn't feel the need to. Those ghosts looked harmless, and Minato knew that for a fact. But ever since they came to Karakura town, the level of spiritual pressure in the area was quite enthralling. He saw bigger, ghoulish spirits, and Minato identified them as Hollows. Minato was three when his mother was telling him about these spirits and he still remembered.
He also knew one more thing.
Minato knew what Misaki's classmate Rukia and Ichigo were. He wasn't sure exactly, but he knew their jobs were to eliminate Hollows. What they were called, he didn't know. But he remembered the first day they got here, Misaki went to take a walk. And being the protective elder brother, he followed. That was when he saw everything. Misaki being attacked, and that sphere around her, but as soon as the sphere enveloped her, she vanished. He knew it was the necklace in action, and right when he blinked his eye, he saw the orange haired kid and Rukia. The boy was dressed in a black Japanese outfit and he sliced the Hollow.
Minato knew about Magi, and he knew his mother was one. He knew he was one, but he wasn't so sure about Misaki. Even when the barrier was around her, Minato believed it was his mother's amulet reacting to her little spiritual pressure. He knew amulets never saved people other than the owner, but he also knew that the amulet Misaki wore, was specifically designed to protect the family. It usually never emitted spiritual pressure, and it was doing so now, because Misaki's spiritual pressure resembled their mother's greatly.
Minato turned on the shower and stood there, his face facing the water pouring down on him. He looked down, and opened his eyes. He wondered why he was born a quiet kid, as he knew both his parents were loud, and Misaki fit in perfectly. But Minato was odd, from the start.
He was three years old, when he saw his mother perform magic for the first time. It was beginner magic, as she made a flower bud bloom in her hand. Ever since then, Minato learnt magic. His mother used to teach it to him, until she passed away. She didn't find the need to tell Misaki anything since little Misa wasn't a Mage. Minato was a quick learner, and even after his mother passed away, he learnt how to use magic. No one had to teach him, he experimented and learnt on his own. He wasn't perfect, but he wasn't that bad either. He learnt it only because life was boring when it was normal.
The other day, Minato knew Rukia spoke to him only to try and distract him from the orange haired boy who was carrying his sister upstairs. Minato saw how the two ran off after leaving Misaki in her room, and he knew the amulet was taken away by someone. Minato sighed, and wiped the towel on his face, and put a shirt on. He yawned and sat for breakfast, and he bit a piece of the bread and chewed. He swiped television channels randomly, and "Hey, where's dad?" "Shopping." Minato grimaced. That was one thing his dad was good at doing. Shopping for no reason.
The whole day was boring, and Minato observed his sister more and more. She was acting too normal, and Minato found that suspicious. "Where's mom's necklace?" He asked, staring at her face. "What necklace?" Minato looked away immediately, and sighed internally. "What necklace?" Misaki persisted and Minato poked her cheek and walked off.
The next day, Minato dropped Misaki to school, and saw the orange haired kid and Rukia beside him. Minato drove off, and ignored what he saw.
Ichigo saw that Misaki's brother was glaring at him from inside the car, and Ichigo was quite frankly creeped out. Rukia nudged him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, he looks at everyone that way. Can't believe Misaki's related to him." Ichigo shrugged, and saw Misaki a few feet in front on him. She mustn't remember anything, he recalled and waved at her.
Ichigo was flustered, as he noticed Rukia acting a little too strange that day. She was too quiet, and she was acting strange with Orihime and Misaki as well. Ichigo noticed Misaki staring at him, and when he turned to look she looked away. Ichigo shrugged and looked down, a slight blush on his cheeks. That evening, he confronted Rukia asking what's wrong with her, but there wasn't a proper answer. So Ichigo had to wait for knowing what was wrong.
And that night he found out what was wrong.
That night, Ichigo took the leftovers from dinner to give to Rukia, but found that she was missing. Ichigo kept wondering if she was going to return that night, and 'Ah, it's nice to not have Soul Reaper duties tonight' he thought to himself. Suddenly, Ichigo heard something close to a muffled noise coming from the bathroom, and as he walked in, he found Kone gagged and tied to the back of the toilet bowl. "What the hell? Kone, why're you all tied up?" "Rukia! Ichigo, Rukia is in big trouble!" Kone replied, and points to a note on Ichigo's desk. The note read that Rukia had to leave and instead of looking for her, they should go into hiding. Ichigo was confused. And for obvious reasons, Ichigo won't follow her orders, so Ichigo decided to change into Soul Reaper form and go find her. But then he realized something vital. Ichigo cannot change form without Rukia.
But the problem was solved as Kisuke Urahara appeared out of nowhere.
The events after that night were life changing for Ichigo. After Byakuya and Rukia left him there, Yoruichi and Kisuke took him to Urahara's shop and healed him. Kisuke gives him pills to be taken every hour, and told him he'll be healed by dinner and that he could attend the last day of the term. Ichigo mentally decided to take up Kisuke's offer in having him train him, and Ichigo would go to the Soul Society to save Rukia. It would take a week to open the gate and ten days to train, giving him thirteen days in the Soul Society. Ichigo wouldn't blow this one up.
The next day in school, Ichigo looked for Uryu, and noticed that he was missing. Ichigo understood that nobody would remember Rukia, but also knew that Uryu would. During lunch, a confused looking Misaki approached him.
That day in school, Misaki couldn't find Rukia anywhere. And when she asked about her to Tatsuki, "Who's Rukia?" Misaki was shocked and went around asking the others. Misaki then started to get scared and wondered what was going on. She saw Ichigo, who looked depressed and made it a point to ask him in lunch break. At lunch she walked up to him and "Ichigo, where's Rukia? And why are everyone telling me they can't remember who she is?" Ichigo's eyes grew wide and he gripped Misaki's shoulders making her yelp due to the sudden movement. He pulled her aside, to a corner and "You remember her?" Misaki looked confused. "Of course I remember her, Ichigo, I don't have dementia. What's going on?" When Ichigo was about to tell her, he held himself back. His hands didn't leave her shoulders and Ichigo sighed. "I-I can't…its nothing to worry about…I promise you, I'll bring her back." Misaki wondered even more about what was going on, but seeing Ichigo like that made her stop her questioning.
"Whatever it is, Ichigo, be safe." Ichigo smiled slightly at her and her at him. "You can let go of me now, Ichigo." Misaki said softly, her face red. Ichigo suddenly released her, and his face immediately turned red. He smiled at her again, and walked back into class.
Ichigo got to know that Orihime too remembered Rukia. And as he walked to the Urahara shop, he remembered Misaki's words to him and smiled. He was sure to come back.
After training Ichigo and sending him to the Soul Society with Yoruichi, Kisuke got back to what he was previously set out on doing. Spying on Misaki's little family. Her father seemed normal, but her brother almost caught them spying more than once. And Kisuke noted that Minato Otonashi had a fair amount of spiritual pressure. One evening, as Kisuke tried to look at Minato, he couldn't find the boy inside his house. "Looking for me?" Came a voice behind Kisuke. Kisuke grinned and nodded. "You are good, for a human." Kisuke remarked and Minato cocked an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I know you're a Mage, kid." Urahara said, walking in the direction of his shop, expecting Minato to follow him. But he didn't.
"So?" Came his reply, shocking the Soul Reaper. He turned to Minato and, "I'm guessing you don't want to talk to me about yourself." Minato shook his head. "Not in the very least." And walked off. "Just so you know, people like Ichigo are called Soul Reapers!" Kisuke said, and Minato walked off much faster.
Inside his house, during dinner, Minato observed Misaki. She looked depressed and her spiritual pressure was effected. Ever since she came to Karakura, her spiritual pressure was changing drastically, and Minato frowned at the thought. There was a possibility that she was a Mage, and there was only one way to find out for sure. Minato grumbled to himself as he realized he needed the blonde Soul Reaper's help. Minato knew he was the same type as Ichigo, and he frowned yet again.
The next morning, Minato walked to Urahara shop and confronted the man, who didn't look too shocked to see him. "Listen, I'll tell you anything you need to know, if you do me a favor." The blonde man tilts his eyebrow in astonishment. "Oh?" "Don't play dumb, I know you have an Amulet with you. I want you to destroy it." Kisuke smirked and, "Consider it done." And he yelled to Tessai to carry out the request.