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Post by Kuriko Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 13:54:59 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 510 "Family Dynamics": The midday sun filtered through the paper windows of the modest Asuhara home, casting soft, golden rays across the tatami mat floor. The scent of simmering miso soup filled the air, mingling with the earthy aroma of fresh rice. Kuriko stood by the hearth, her sleeves rolled up as she stirred the pot, glancing occasionally at her mother, Kiyoko, who was engrossed in her sewing.
"Mother, you've been working on that kimono for days now," Kuriko said, her tone playful yet affectionate. "Are you planning to wear it to the Emperor's court?"Kiyoko chuckled softly, her fingers never pausing in their delicate work. "Only if you plan on stealing me an invitation, Kuriko."Kuriko grinned, her heart warmed by the familiar banter. "I'm sure Riku could manage that. He has a knack for getting into places he shouldn't."
Her thoughts drifted to her twin brother, Riku, who was undoubtedly still curled up under his futon, oblivious to the world outside. He had returned late from last night's job, the details of which Kuriko was itching to hear. She'd have to drag him out of bed sooner or later, but for now, she enjoyed the quiet moments with her mother.
Minako, the oldest twin, was still in her room getting ready for the day, while Miyuki, the second-oldest sister, was busy slicing vegetables with precise, practiced movements. She had a focused look on her face, as if each cut was a matter of great importance. Kuriko admired Miyuki's dedication, even if it was just lunch they were preparing.
"You know," Kuriko said, turning back to her mother, "I think Miyuki's cooking might be wasted on this family. We eat like savages."Kiyoko smiled, her eyes soft with maternal pride. "Your sister takes pride in everything she does, just like you. Whether it's cooking or...other activities."Kuriko blushed slightly, the unspoken reference to their thieving escapades hanging in the air. Their family may have been thieves, but they were skilled, meticulous, and always careful to target those who deserved it and can always afford the loss.
The silence was broken by the sound of shuffling footsteps. Kuriko looked up to see Riku entering the room, his hair a tousled mess, eyes still heavy with sleep. He rubbed his face as if trying to scrub the last remnants of the night away.
"Look who decided to join the living," Kuriko teased, unable to resist. "Sleep well, or were you dreaming about all the gold you pocketed last night?"Riku groaned, dropping into a seat by the table. "You’d be dreaming about gold too if you had to climb the walls of a daimyo's mansion in the dead of night."Miyuki shot him a look of mock disapproval. "At least try to look awake before you start talking about your exploits, Riku. You’re scaring the rice." He smirked, grabbing a piece of the pickled radish that Miyuki had just set on the table. "Fine, fine. I’m awake now. And for the record, the job went smoothly. No alarms, no guards noticing anything out of place, and we got what we came for."Kuriko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And what did we come for?"Riku leaned back, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Just a little something that the lord of the manor didn’t need. Let’s just say his wealth will be redistributed soon enough."Kuriko couldn’t help but smile. The thrill of the job, the satisfaction of knowing they were helping those who needed it most—it was what made the risks worth it. But there was more to it than just the excitement. It was the bond they shared, the unspoken understanding that they were all in this together, no matter what.
She glanced at her mother again, the lines of concentration on her face softened by a hint of pride. Despite the dangers, Kiyoko had never once questioned their path. She trusted them, believed in the cause they were fighting for, even if it wasn’t a conventional one.
As Kuriko ladled the soup into bowls, she felt a pang of longing for the rest of the family, who were still out doing "men's work" as they liked to call it. Her father, Hisoka, and her brothers, Satoshi, the second oldest, Shigeo the third oldest who had been born just a few months before her, and Naoru the oldest who was Minako’s twin, were likely on their way back now, having spent the morning in the fields or perhaps scouting for their next target.
Kuriko’s mind wandered to what they might be planning. The men always seemed to come up with the most audacious ideas, ones that made Kuriko's heart race with both fear and excitement. She often wondered what it would be like to be in their shoes, to feel the rush of adrenaline as they executed their daring plans. But her role was just as important, she reminded herself, even if it didn’t always involve the same level of danger.
The door slid open with a soft creak, and in walked her father, followed closely by Shigeo, Satoshi, and Naoru. They were covered in dust, their faces flushed from the morning's exertions, but there was a lightness in their steps that told Kuriko they had been successful in whatever task they had set out to do.Hisoka gave his daughter a warm smile as he entered. "Smells good in here. Is lunch ready?" Kuriko nodded, setting the last bowl on the table. "Just in time. And you missed all the excitement. Riku was just about to tell us how he became the hero of the night."Riku shot her a playful glare. "Hero, huh? I thought I was just a thief."Hisoka chuckled, clapping a hand on his youngest son's shoulder. "A hero in this family is just another word for a thief. But we all know the good we do, even if the rest of the world doesn't." Kuriko felt a swell of pride as she looked around the room at her family. They were thieves, yes, but they were also so much more. They were a family, bound together by love, loyalty, and a shared sense of purpose. And in a world where so much was uncertain, that was enough.
As they all gathered around the table, the chatter and laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls. This was what it meant to be a part of the Robin Hood group. It wasn’t just about the thrill of the steal or the challenge of outwitting the rich and powerful. It was about the bond they shared, the knowledge that no matter what happened, they would always have each other.
And for Kuriko, that was the greatest treasure of all.
“So,” she looked over at her twin Riku, “You going to finish your story?” |
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Post by Riku Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 14:34:16 GMT -6
Riku blinked the last of the sleep from his eyes, smiling at the faces of his family as they watched him expectantly with pride in their eyes. His brothers: Naoru, Satoshi and Shigeo, and his sisters: Minako, Miyuki, Risa and his own twin Kuriko all gazed at him as if they expected a grand odyssey. To be fair, his heist this time was simple, straightforward. Nothing to write home about.
He grinned at them. "Well, if you're looking for a grand display of theatrics, I'm sorry to disappoint. The Naito family were small fry. Rich but barely worth my time. And not very smart either. They had all their valuables in one place, in one room like a museum, as if they expected people to stop by and gawk at their display of wealth." Riku took a bowl of miso soup and sipped it. "It was like walking into a flea market. I barely knew where to start. Earlier in the night I had slipped into the kitchen and laced their sake with a sleeping drug. By the time their heads hit their pillows for the night they were out like a fire in a rainstorm. I was half tempted to root through their bedrooms just for the sake of proving how easy it was to ruin them."
Riku smirked as he brought his bowl to his lips once more. "The Naito family won't be doing any more hostile takeovers of small businesses ever again. Don't be surprised if you see them on the streets begging like street urchins within the month." After sipping his soup he jumped in realization and put his bowl down. "OH! I almost forgot! Speaking of businesses." He ran back to his room and emerged several minutes later carrying a file that held a stack of papers a quarter inch thick. He set the file down in front of his father and older brother. "These are the contracts and deeds to all of the businesses and properties they 'acquired' illegally. Ready to be redistributed back to their rightful owners. I took the liberty of going through the head's office."
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Post by Naoru Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 14:58:11 GMT -6
After setting the stack of papers in front of him and their father, Riku stepped back, a self-satisfied grin on his face. Naoru, flipping through the file, let out a low whistle, his eyes widening as he realized the magnitude of what Riku had brought them.
“Riku,” Naoru began, still flipping through the thick stack of documents, “do you realize how long this is going to take? We’re talking weeks, maybe even months, to sort through all of these and return them to their rightful owners. This isn't just a few contracts—this is a mountain of paperwork!”
He glanced up at Riku, a mixture of admiration and shock on his face. “You didn’t just hit the Naito family hard—you buried them. But man, you’ve also given us one hell of a job.”
Riku just shrugged, his grin widening. “All in a night’s work, right? Besides, it’s about time those businesses went back to the people who deserve them. A little extra work is worth it.”
Naoru nodded slowly as he looked through one of the files, his eyes widened, "no wonder old man Matsuda has been so upset as of late." he closed the file and lifted it in gesture. "Those bastards had the deed to his Tea Shop."
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Post by Kiyoko Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 15:15:16 GMT -6
"That Tea Shop has been in his family for generations," Kiyoko stated in a disappointed tone as she reached across the table gesturing for the file. "It's the only tea shop that sells specialty teas." She took the file as Naoru handed it to her. "I see Lady Tori, Captain Ukitake and former lieutenant Sasakibe in there almost every time I go in there. So that has to tell you something about the place." She opened the file and looked at it. "I wonder what happened for this to take place."
She looked to her husband, eldest son and Riku, "I think I will return this to Matsuda-san myself," she looked pointedly at Riku her youngest son. "And do not worry about these files, Kuriko and I will take care of them and have them done in a few days or so."
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Post by Riku Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 16:01:12 GMT -6
Riku nodded, finishing his miso. "It may take a while, but the markets and the business districts will be all the better once everyone has what is theirs. The Naito may have not been a challenge, but they were a necessary target. Maybe one we should have dealt with sooner." He sighed, looking at the stack of papers again. "But they're no more after last night. I doubt anyone will even remember their name within a year or two. Even less remembered than us."
The Asuharas, having once been a rather influential clan centuries and centuries ago when they were business owners and merchants and advisors to other clans, were not amongst the names commonly spoken in remembrance amongst the noble classes. They preferred it that way. Made their jobs easier. For all those who did know them guessed, they now continued their bloodline off of old money and smart investing. They ruffled no feathers, poked no sleeping bears, and left well enough alone. They lived quietly under the radar, free to trim and prune and clip the dead branches of nobility while helping the needy in the Rukongai districts. The Seireitei stayed a safer place for nobles and military alike, and the slums of the Rukongai ever so slowly began to become less and less ruthless.
So the Asuharas did what they believed to be their calling. They kept trimming and pruning the branches of nobility. One vile clan at a time. One generation of Asuharas at a time.
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Post by Kuriko Asuhara on Aug 20, 2024 18:27:33 GMT -6
Kuriko leaned in slightly, her voice taking on a tone of curiosity as she stirred the pot. "So, is there another hit coming up soon?" she asked, her eyes flicking from Riku to Naoru. "I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground, and there’s some interesting gossip floating around. One story, in particular, caught my attention—sounds like it could be worth our while. But we might want to tread carefully with this one."
Naoru raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And why’s that, Kuriko-chan?" he asked, his tone reflecting both curiosity and a hint of concern.
Kuriko paused for effect, her voice lowering slightly as she shared the critical detail. "Because it’s the kind of mission that the Masanobu assassins would be all over. If they get involved, things could get messy, fast." She glanced around the room, noting the sudden shift in attention from her family. "We’re good at what we do, but when the Masanobus are in play, we’re talking about a whole different level of danger."
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Post by Hisoka Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 13:31:26 GMT -6
Hisoka sipped a cup of tea, humming to himself as he pondered his family's next target. The Masanobu clan of assassins were the opposite side of their coin. The Asuharas took the riches and the Masanobus took the heads. Sometimes they would get there first and lay out their targets like a feast to dine on, and other times they got there after the Masanobu clan had already separated the clan's members' heads from their shoulders, leaving them to simply collect the unneeded riches from the coffers. They did their best to stay off of the Masanobus' hit list. Surely the fact that they had gone this long without being targeted by the Masanobus meant that they either had no idea who the Asuharas were, or the Masanobus deemed them a necessary evil as well.
Still...
"While I am grateful to the Masanobu clan for all they do for the Seireitei, our modus operandum remains the same. Stay out of their way and they shall stay out of ours. Wrap up their targets nicely for them if we get to them first. Live and let live..." Hisoka chuckled and shook his head with another sip of his tea. "Or I suppose it's live and let kill. Regardless, tread the waters of any high profile targets carefully, and if we cannot execute a heist without getting in the way of the Masanobu clan, then observe carefully and slip in after they have done their job."
Risa, the second youngest daughter, huffed a sigh, planting her chin in her hand. "Well that's not satisfying at all. I'd rather we get to them first and tie up their targets in nice little bows."
Hisoka smiled and smoothed a hand over Risa's jaw length black hair. "While I agree that it's more fun to carry out a large operation, sometimes the best method is to play it safe. Remember, we are not just doing this for the fun of it. We have our goals and dreams. We are making Soul Society a better place for everyone by doing what the Gotei cannot. That goes for the Masanobu clan as well." He turned back to Kuriko. "Tell me, dear, what is this story you have heard?"
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Post by Kuriko Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 13:55:50 GMT -6
Kuriko smiled warmly at her father, her voice carrying a casual tone that belied the weight of her words. "Word on the street is there’s a group of Soul Reapers doing unauthorized or improper sending of souls to the Soul Society."
"So illegal soul burial," Naoru butted in, an annoyed look in his eyes.
Kuriko's head nodded slowly, " Yes. They say these Reapers have been using unapproved methods or devices."
She paused, observing her father's reaction before continuing. "I also heard them say that some of the souls were sent here forcibly before their time. They’ve tampered with the Konso process and redirected souls to Hueco Mundo or even Hell."
Kuriko’s smile remained, but a glint of concern flickered in her eyes, knowing the gravity of the situation she was hinting at. "If it's true, things could get really messy."
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Post by Hisoka Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 20:02:14 GMT -6
Hisoka frowned, bristling at the thought of people who were supposed to protect and guide souls using them for profit. He nodded firmly. "Yes, this will be a very sensitive operation indeed. However, we cannot just let these people get away with such a heinous act. So we must deal with this carefully and time it perfectly. Let us not be hasty in planning this. If the Masanobu clan gets to them before us, then so be it, we will follow in after and collect the spoils."
He looked to each of his children. "We will not chase after glory for this one. This is for the sake of all souls, not just in Soul Society. I do not want a single misstep on this. One wrong move and it could mean the end of us."
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Post by Naoru Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 20:45:58 GMT -6
Naoru sat in silence, his fingers drumming softly on the table as his mind churned over the information he had just learned. His expression remained unreadable, but the tension in the air was palpable. "So, with these people—they’re Soul Reapers, not nobles, correct?"
Kuriko nodded slowly, a hint of doubt flickering in her eyes. "So the rumors go. I mean, who else could do this?"
"A Soul Reaper, sure," Naoru said, his voice thoughtful, "but are we talking about excommunicated Soul Reapers, or ones still on the payroll?" His gaze shifted to their father, seeking his insight. "If we’re dealing with an enlisted Soul Reaper, things just got more detrimental. Unless they’re living out of their division…"
The implication hung in the air, heavy with the potential consequences. If these rogue Soul Reapers were still officially part of the Gotei 13, the situation was far worse than they’d initially feared. It meant that the corruption ran deeper than anyone had suspected, possibly infecting the very heart of the Soul Society.
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Post by Satoshi Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 21:11:34 GMT -6
"We're gonna need a lot of preliminary info on this. We're basically going to need to front our own investigation into this before we even begin to plan the heist," Satoshi shook his head with a heavy sigh. He pushed a hand though his short black hair. "And if these Soul Reapers are all from different divisions, then this might turn into a multiple night heist. And that's assuming we don't push our luck and get caught. Hell, we might have to spread it out over weeks!"
He sat up straight from his leaning position on the table and crossed his arms. "Breaking into a noble's house is like walking into a festival. They basically hold the door open for us most times. But the godsdamned Gotei? We'd be better off just walking ourselves into jail if we don't cross every T and dot every I. If we fuck this up, Rukongai can kiss the Robin Hood gang's charity goodbye."
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Post by Kiyoko Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 21:24:31 GMT -6
"Well that is what your sister is for. She got us the basics and brought it to the table to see what you all thought of it. She will find out the details to determine if it is worth the risk and the time."
Riku shook his head. "Not just her. I'm going to be helping out with gathering intelligence on this as well. We need more than just Kuri-chan on this. We should have at least us two and one other gathering details on this."
"Count me in then," Satoshi nodded. "After you two, I'm the best suited for information gathering. After all, what good is blackmail if you have nothing to hold over people's heads?"
Kiyoko couldn’t help but giggle softly, her head shaking slightly with a mix of amusement and affection. "I don't know if I should be proud or ashamed of our children, dear," she remarked, her tone light but teasing as she glanced pointedly at her husband.
The jest in her words was clear, though her eyes spoke of nothing but pride. From the youngest to the oldest, every one of their children had grown into someone talented and capable in their own right, excelling in their chosen fields. Kiyoko was immensely proud of her family, and moments like this only served to remind her of the strength and unity they shared, even in the face of uncertainty.
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Post by Shigeo Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 23:10:30 GMT -6
Shigeo adjusted the braid around his ponytail and smoothed back the white dyed part on the right side of his head--the rest of his fringe remaining his natural black and falling out of the ponytail to frame the left side of his face. "The answer is both," Shigeo spoke up at last once he was finished with his meal. He crossed his arms on the table, his charm earrings swaying and the bangles around his wrists jingling from the movement. "Definitely both. We're liars and thieves and criminals. Definitely not a profession any normal parent would want their children involved in."
He looked over at his parents with a smirk, leaning his head into one of his hands. "But you aren't normal parents, of course. And we're no normal family. Hell, we're nobles and yet we don't have a single housekeeper or cook or servant. We may be as wealthy as the Great Noble houses, but we sure as hell don't live like it."
Next to him Riku fiddled with the bangles on his wrists, trying to take one off. Shigeo swatted him away and withdrew his hand from his dragon of a brother, giving him a pointed glare, even as the youngest Asuhara male pouted at him. He shook his head in a firm "no". Even being family, Riku was liable to claim the others' treasures as his own simply because he liked them. With each family member it was something different. From Miyuki it was artwork and kimonos, from Risa it was usually rare coins and other high value items she got from her grand theft heists, and from Shigeo it was jewelry and gemstones, the one specialty he claimed outside of his smuggling profession. Some of his pieces his sisters and brothers claimed for him from their jobs--except for Riku who very rarely was willing to share his spoils unless he managed to find something he thought one of the others should have more. Other pieces he had crafted himself from raw materials he either purchased or got from jobs the family had done. Once in a while he did a job in the field instead of running and organizing delivery of funds and handouts to the people of Rukongai. The first place he hit during a job was the women's dressing rooms, which were always filled with sparkling gemstones and glittering gold and silver. Shigeo was probably the one member of the family who could rival Riku's keen eye and sharp nose for treasure.
And that usually led to them getting into verbal and sometimes physical spats over who claimed what and why. Even to this day, Riku had only given him two gifts from his heists: a rose gold pendant with the most gorgeous ocean blue catseye gem he had ever seen that was almost as big as his eyeball, and a matching bangle with a lighter blue catseye gem two months later. That was at least two years ago.
Dragon indeed.
To be honest, Riku probably got his dragon-like possessiveness over his treasures from him. Their family often joked that Shigeo had the temperament of a cat: slow to trust but loyal to the death and extremely protective and territorial. Sweet and kind one moment and clawing and hissing the next. Over both his family and his treasures. It even influenced his choice in gemstones. Catseye. His favorite gemstone, his second being tigerseye.
Shigeo wrangled his baby brother's hands away from his bangles as he continued to add his two cents to the conversation. "In any case, living like we're a broke and nearly destitute noble family that's fallen from grace is our greatest cover. So I suppose it fits the bill that none of us are perfect little angels." He tossed and pinned Riku to the floor with his hands behind his back. "Especially this one."
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Post by Risa Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 23:23:55 GMT -6
Risa giggled as she watched her older and younger brother scuffle over Shigeo's jewelry. After a moment of struggling and distracting Shigeo, Riku managed to slip one off of his wrist without Shigeo noticing. And when Shigeo was convinced that Riku had given up, he freed him and let him sit upright. Riku smirked to himself and slipped the stolen bangle onto his own wrist and sat contentedly, Shigeo none the wiser that he was missing one. Risa smirked with pride at Riku who grinned back. None of them were better pickpockets than Riku. Not even their father.
She turned to their mother. "What Nii-chan is trying to say, Mother, is that you and Father have done a good job of raising us and that if we were just any old normal noble family, things would be boring around here. We may have been raised in this environment, but we all had a choice to walk away from this life. Instead we threw ourselves into it willingly."
"Hey, you little shit, that's mine!" Shigeo shouted at Riku once he noticed him wearing the bangle. He lunged for it, trying to grab Riku's wrist.
"No! I stole it fair and square! It's mine now!" Riku guarded his hand in his stomach, hunching over into a ball.
"That is not how it works here! You don't steal from family!" Shigeo grabbed his arms by the elbows, trying to uncurl him from his fetal position.
Risa giggled again, shaking her head. "Some of us more than others."
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Post by Kuriko Asuhara on Aug 21, 2024 23:30:03 GMT -6
Kuriko giggled at them as she looked pointedly at Riku, "I sure hope your new girlfriend don't wear jewelry. You'll rob her blind."
Riku flushed pink and shook his head, trying to wring his hands from Shigeo's grip as his brother tried to pry the bangle off. "S-she's not my girlfriend!" While Riku was flustered, Shigeo managed to get the bangle off and back onto his own wrist. He pouted and huffed. "Besides, I would never steal from my friends."
"But you'll steal from family?!" Shigeo shrieked at him, causing Riku to flinch and laugh at his reaction.
"You all can afford it! Besides, you'll just get more after another job anyway!" Riku laughed at the mortified and baffled expression on the usually stoic Shigeo's face. His handsome features twisted in disbelief.
Kuriko giggled again, "he does have a point, Shigeo." Her statement earned her a pointed look from her older brother.
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