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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on May 2, 2024 18:57:57 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: RejectionEpisode 433 "Blended Family": Tsukiro waited in Kaori's chambers while she changed out of her comfortable yukata and into a more formal kimono. It wasn't anything extremely fancy, but it was still a nice dinner kimono. He sat on her bed, one leg crossed over the other and his hands on the bed behind him as he watched her fold the layers of the kimono. It was a royal blue one with white and lavender Japanese primrose blossoms crossed over one sleeve and the front of the skirt. Her obi was dark grey with a violet obijime cord. By contrast, Tsukiro himself wore a royal violet kimono with blue hydrangeas on the shoulders and across the bottom. His obi was black with a blue stripe through the middle.
His attention was drawn away from her by his thoughts of how things would go tonight. He and Kaori were having dinner with his father and his... step-mother.
He stared up at the ceiling deep in thought. He could hardly believe his father had remarried. He didn't think he ever would. But he was happy for him. It was nice to know he had moved on and allowed himself to be happy with someone else... something that Tsukiro hadn't done in some ways. It should have been inspiring, but all it did was cause a series of larger and larger cogs in his brain to turn. What if they had children? That was more like a question of when. How would he handle it? Would he be standoffish? No, it was more than likely that he would be overbearing and overprotective. Could he handle being an older brother again?"Yoo hoo~" Kaori's voice called out to him. "Earth to the moon." Tsukiro blinked and looked forward, seeing Kaori standing in front of him with a smile, motioning for him to help her with her obi. He smiled and stood up. "Sorry, love. My mind was elsewhere." He took the cloth in his hand and folded it around her tightly but not too tight.
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Post by Kaori Shihōin on May 2, 2024 19:16:23 GMT -6
Kaori smiled as she looked over her shoulder at Tsukiro, "Penny for your thoughts?" when he finished tying her obi she turned and looked at him. She looked deep into his eyes. "You're not nervous are you?"
Tsukiro gave a half grin and shrugged. "A little... Though I'm more nervous for the future..." He reached out and took her hands, lifting them to his lips. He kissed the backs of her hands softly. "I'm... more afraid than anything. I barely know my step-mother right now and yet I'm afraid of something bad happening to her. I'm afraid of being a brother again... I don't want to go through that pain again." He shook his head and sighed. "I must sound stupid... or crazy."
"No," Kaori shook her head. "With what you have faced I would be worried if you weren't having these thoughts." She tiptoed up and kissed his cheek. "Everything will be fine." she spoke softly as she pulled away.
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on May 2, 2024 20:04:02 GMT -6
Tsukiro chuckled and nodded. "I suppose that's true." He brushed his fingers over her cheek. "As long as I have you, I can endure anything. You're my strength. I mean that. You've held my pieces together more times than I can count."
She gave him a bright smile and patted his chest. "That's what I do. It's what I will always do for you and this family." She stepped back, turned, and walked over to the mirror messing with her hair. "So what are we having for dinner?" She looked at Tsukiro through the mirror.
"Grilled fish, miso soup, spicy cucumber salad, scallion pancakes, and fried gyoza," Tsukiro recalled as he watched her fix her hair.
Each day he spent with Kaori reminded him more and more of why they were so close as children. Things had changed so much after he met Kita. Initially, he had welcomed the changes, but now, now he wished things had never changed. He wanted to be the man she deserved, but he still felt something holding him back whenever he thought about the two of them together. He hated to admit it, but he had the feeling when he saw Kita yesterday that it was the past that was holding him back. He knew he needed to face it head on, just as Kita needed to, but neither of them were ready to talk it out.
But he had more important things to think about right now. Like about how his family was becoming more and more blended and complicated. A welcome complicated.
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Post by Kaori Shihōin on May 2, 2024 20:36:43 GMT -6
Kaori finished with her hair and turned presenting herself to Tsukiro. "So, how do I look?" She started a path toward him as his head nodded slowly. "You know we should really invite Yoruichi and the family over on evening to have a real family dinner. It's been a long time since we all have gotten together." She smiled brightly.
"You know I have not seen Kenji since he was a baby. Oh wait!" her hand lifted and covered her mouth. "I guess that would not be a good idea since the vessel is a surrogate daughter to the Uraharas." She sighed, "I'm sorry for bring it up."
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on May 2, 2024 20:43:22 GMT -6
Tsukiro felt a sense of panic well up in his chest, making his lungs feel tight. He clenched his hands together then released, willing the anxiety to fade. He gave Kaori a smile and took her hand. "I'm sure we'll get to the point where we can make that happen. There are just..." He started then cut himself off. He shook his head. "There's so much she and I have to work out to be comfortable around each other as friends and neither of us are exactly chomping at the bit to resolve it."
Tsukiro gave Kaori a grimace. "Sorry. I don't mean to make you uncomfortable talking about it. I would love to make that dream a reality for us one day. A family dinner with everyone. No awkward silence."
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Post by Kaori Shihōin on May 2, 2024 20:47:32 GMT -6
Kaori smiled warmly nodding her head, taking his hand in hers just as a knock echoed through the room. They both looked toward the door, Kaori looking back at Tsukiro still wearing a warm smile. "Looks like dinner is done. That or your parents are here."
Parents...
Tsukiro gave Kaori's hand a squeeze as her words repeated in his mind. The taste of the word was bittersweet on his tongue. He still thought of his mother and father when he thought of that word, but when he put Lady Natsumi in that picture as well... He couldn't exactly describe the feeling. But he was sure of one thing. He wanted to get to know her. Tsukiro smiled at Kaori and led her to the door.
"Let's go eat then."
Kaori let Tsukiro lead her to the door, he opened it and the two saw one of the servants standing there.
"Your guests are here, Lady Kaori and Lord Ashimitsu. They are in the sitting room waiting for your arrival."
Kaori nodded to the young lady as she turned and walked away. "Ready?" She gave his hand a tender squeeze.
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on May 2, 2024 21:03:59 GMT -6
Tsukiro nodded with a smile. "Yeah. Let's go."
They left Kaori's room and made their way to the sitting room where his father and step-mother were waiting for them. The closer they got, the more nervous, yet excited, Tsukiro felt. Things were changing for him, and he felt deep down that it was for the better. Moved
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