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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 18:58:00 GMT -6
Bleach Unrated: REBOOTEDCurrent Arc: The ChaosEpisode 547 “Gifts From the Heart”: Tsukiro walked through the Shihoin manor carrying a large canvas tote bag that carried a variety of self-care gifts and treats. The recipient of the gift: his step-mother, Natsumi, who was currently six months pregnant with his soon to be baby brother, whom they had chosen the name of Daiki for, naming the boy partly after their father. Tsukiro was still over the moon and still scared shitless by the idea of being an older brother again. Though he was not an only child by spirit, he was made one due to the actions of Sosuke Aizen. He had been without his sibling for countless decades. He had finished his training and gone through the academy and made his way through Tenth Division and eventually became captain in that time. He had loved and lost and loved again. He was a wholly different person now than he was when Ryushiro and his mother died.
As he crossed the courtyard that led to the Ashimitsu Wing and approached the living quarters of his parents, he took a deep breath. Walking down the familiar open air hallway, he stood in front of the door to the sitting room and knocked. He heard his step-mother’s voice inside announcing his entry and slid the sliding door open in response. She was sitting on a couch with her feet propped up on an ottoman, a basket of thick, soft looking yarn in different colors next to her as she knitted Daiki’s baby blanket. It was going to be black, red and white with accents of gold. Unorthodox for a baby blanket, but Natsumi had stated that she saw the blanket in a dream one night and immediately began working on it. So far the blanket took up at least half her lap and covered up the bottom part of her round belly. Her silvery hair was braided over one shoulder, her ice blue eyes shockingly warm for their color. The scar over her left eye did nothing to mar her beauty. She wore a soft blue kimono that matched her eyes, paired with a red and gold obi that was thinner and sat atop her belly and wasn’t tied too tight for comfort.
Natsumi smiled warmly at him as he walked in, bowing to her. “Good afternoon, Okaasama,” Tsukiro said to her, moving closer. He had taken to calling her okaasama in the recent days after speaking with her more and getting to know her. At first it felt like a betrayal, but after some reflection he decided that his mother would not want him to remain so distant with her the rest of his life. So the title grew on him. “How are you feeling today?” |
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Post by Natsumi Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 18:59:33 GMT -6
“I’m feeling well,” Natsumi smiled up at her step son as he moved closer, pausing her knitting. “My back and hips are sore, but it’s nothing I can’t manage. I’ve felt worse pain from my swordplay training.”
Tsukiro chuckled and made his way around the table to sit next to her on the couch, facing her. He had been thoroughly impressed to learn that Natsumi was a kendo instructor and could best even some of the finest Soul Reapers. He looked forward to seeing those skills first hand once she had recovered from the birth of his brother.
“You’re carrying your first child. I think you’re entitled to complain a little.”
Natsumi giggled, covering her mouth as she looked over at Tsukiro. “What I would really like to complain about is the swelling in my feet.” She pointed to said feet that did indeed seem more swollen than last time in her tabi socks.
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 19:00:40 GMT -6
“Well, you’re in luck,” Tsukiro sat the canvas tote between them. “Last time I spoke to my father, he told me some of your requests, so I brought you some gifts.”
“Oh, Tsuki-kun, you didn’t have to,” Natsumi shook her head, reaching out to place a hand on his before he began taking out items. She gave a knowing smile. “Did Dainosuke set you up to this?”
“No,” Tsukiro laughed, shaking his head. “I merely asked him how you were and decided to bring you some things after he mentioned what you were struggling with.”
He pulled out a pair of tabi that appeared small, but upon closer inspection had banded elastic around the soles and ankles. “Some compression socks. I heard from some of the mothers in my division that these were essential.” He pulled out a small glass jar with a pink ribbon around the neck. “Bath salts. I was told these help relax the muscles and help keep your skin from drying out.” The next item out of the bag was a metal tin and a candle. “Herbal teas—all caffeine free—and a eucalyptus mint candle. Apparently mint helps with nausea.”
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Post by Natsumi Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 19:03:44 GMT -6
Natsumi gaped at all of the items Tsuki was pulling out of the bag. She placed a hand on her chest and leaned over. “My goodness, Tsuki-kun! Did you pack the kitchen sink in there too?”
Tsukiro gave a half grin and a shrug. “I kept having the female officers coming into my office to give me ideas, so I just kind of ran with it. Some things were too big to fit into a bag and eventually I had to cut them off because there were just too many ideas.” He pulled out a small plastic card in a cardboard envelope. “Speaking of which, this is a gift certificate to Nirvana Spa Center in District Four. A lot of the female officers pitched in and bought this for you, apparently. There’s some other small gifts in here from them. A planner, some books, a skincare set, some sort of lotion that’s supposed to help with stretch marks—”
“Is there anything in there that was your idea?” Natsumi teased him with a giggle.
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 19:05:03 GMT -6
“Of course,” Tsukiro smirked. He reached into the bag and pulled out two shopping bags filled with various food items and drinks. “I brought the pregnancy cravings.”
“The best gift of all,” Natsumi smiled, taking one of the bags. She looked inside to see that many of the items were indeed the cravings she had told Dainosuke about. She gasped and began pulling out items. “Hojicha cherry chocolate!” She pulled out the small bars no bigger than her palm. There were about five of them. “Dainosuke has been hiding these from me,” she laughed.
“Well, just space them out. I’d rather not have my father strangle me to death because I assisted a chocolate binge,” Tsukiro laughed, shaking his head. He pulled out more of the snacks to show her. “Strawberries. He told me you ate a whole pint the other day and he got none of them.”
“Oops,” Natsumi smiled sheepishly with a shrug.
“Some cantaloupe too. Some arare crackers. The cheese kind, the salty kind, and the sweet kind. Umeboshi onigiri. Chocolate banana Pocky. Shrimp crackers. Taiyaki cakes. Ramune, honey ginseng tea, that yogurt drink you like.”
Suddenly Natsumi began laughing uncontrollably, so much so her face turned red. Tsukiro’s gaze snapped up and he gawked at her. “Uh, s-sorry. Was this too much? I wasn’t sure what you’d be in the mood for so I got everything.” He rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “I was just a toddler when my mother was pregnant with Ryushiro, so I have no idea what to do for stuff like this.”
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Post by Natsumi Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 19:06:21 GMT -6
“No no!” Natsumi wiped the tears from her eyes. She giggled again, shaking her head. “This is all lovely, Tsukiro. I appreciate it. I think I’ll be set for at least the next few weeks. And tell the ladies in your division that they are appreciated as well. I will have to return the favor.”
She took one of the squares of hojicha cherry chocolate and unwrapped it. She broke off one of the four smaller squares of chocolate with chopped up dried cherries and popped it into her mouth. Her head tipped back and she hummed in delight. “This is my favorite chocolate. Not too sweet and not too bitter.” She handed the square to Tsukiro in offering.
Tsukiro shook his head with a smile. “No, thank you, okaasama. I bought some for myself. I’ve had probably a pound’s worth of chocolate already. You enjoy it.”
“I don’t blame you,” Natsumi smiled, breaking off another square. “I can eat my body weight’s worth of this even when not pregnant.” After finishing the full square of chocolate, she placed the empty wrapper back into the shopping bag, her eyes catching all of the gifts neatly packed into the large tote Tsukiro had brought over. Tears budded in her eyes and she sniffled. Before she could stop them, tears were flowing down her face.
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 19:07:22 GMT -6
“Okaasama?!” Tsukiro jerked forward, a hand falling on her shoulder. “What’s wrong? Did I forget something? Was it too much after all? I can take some of the items back if it would make you more comfortable.”
Natsumi shook her head and reached for a box of tissues on the side table. “No, no. It’s just… all of this is so thoughtful. From you and your division members. I just feel so… grateful that you took this news so well. I was truly afraid you might not accept it.”
Tsukiro shook his head with a sad smile. “No, this was wonderful news. Amazing news. I’m very happy for you and my father. And any way I can be of help, I want to be. Whether it’s bringing you a pound of chocolate or just offering encouragement.”
“Thank you, Tsuki-kun,” Natsumi dried her eyes and took Tsukiro’s hand in hers. “I know you will be an amazing brother as you were before.”
“Better than before,” Tsukiro nodded firmly. “I will do anything and everything within my power to protect you and Daiki. I swear it.”
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Post by Dainosuke Ashimitsu on Oct 14, 2024 23:36:20 GMT -6
As Dainosuke entered the sitting room, his eyes fell on Natsumi, tissues in hand, and Tsukiro by her side. He immediately smirked, his voice dripping with amusement.
"Oi, Tsukiro, what are you doing making your pregnant mother cry?" he teased, strolling casually into the room. His grin widened comically as he added, "Though, I suppose it's not too hard to make a hormonal woman cry, right?" He chuckled softly, a playful glint in his eyes, before pausing to take a more serious tone. "What's going on in here?"
Natsumi looked up, offering Dainosuke a small, tearful smile. "Oh, don't mind me. I’m just a bit overwhelmed. Our son has been so thoughtful, and I couldn’t hold it in."
Dainosuke's teasing demeanor softened as he walked over, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. "Ah, so he's not causing trouble for once, huh?" He glanced at Tsukiro with mock suspicion. "Good job, kid. What’s this about doing anything and everything for your mother?"
Tsukiro straightened up, determination in his eyes. "I promised Okaasama that I would protect her and Daiki, no matter what. Daiki will want for nothing."
Dainosuke grinned proudly. "That’s the spirit, Tsukiro. We’ll all protect each other. It’s what family does." Then, his smile shifted to something warmer. "But hey, your mom and I? We’ve been through a lot. Don't you worry too much—just be there for her, and that’s all anyone could ask for."
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 15, 2024 0:10:11 GMT -6
Tsukiro nodded with a warm smile at both of his parents. He held up the bags of snacks and gifts. "My division and I may have over done it with the gifts for okaasama, though."
"Nonsense!" Natsumi smiled and picked up another square of chocolate. "I think it's just the right amount of gifts. Very thoughtful gifts."
Tsukiro politely stole the bar of chocolate from her hand and placed it back in the bag, replacing it with some sweet and salty arare crackers and a can of honey ginseng tea. "No more chocolate for today," he shook his head. "I'd like to keep my head, thank you."
Natsumi pouted with a huff, opening the small transparent bag of crackers of various shapes and sizes. Some round, some triangle, some square, and some shaped like sakura flowers. "You two are no fun."
Dainosuke chuckled, crossing his arms as he watched the exchange. "Ah, that's my boy—saving his own skin while pretending to be responsible."
"Oi!" Tsukiro snagged a cracker from Natsumi's bag and chucked it at his father. "Watch it, or I'll let her eat the whole lot of what I bought her. Or worse..." Tsukiro smirked at him. "I'll take all of this back and then you'll have to hear about it."
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Post by Dainosuke Ashimitsu on Oct 15, 2024 0:29:48 GMT -6
Dainosuke caught the cracker with ease, grinning at his son. “Hah! You wouldn’t dare, Tsukiro. If you take it all back, you’ll be the one listening to her complaints, and trust me, she’s got a lot more stamina than you.” He tossed the cracker back playfully. "I'm just here for the show."
Natsumi watched as Tsukiro leaned to the side and caught the arare cracker in his mouth and ate it. She giggled and shook her head. "You two are just alike." She pulled the bag of snacks and gifts closer to her, giving Tsukiro a pointed look. "And you will do no such thing. I will gratefully and gleefully use every single gift in this bag."
Tsukiro chuckled and leaned in to kiss her temple as he stood. "Good, I'm glad you like them." He walked around the table towards his father. "Well, I should get going. I still have to get lunch on the way back and then I have mission briefings and debriefings to go over with the Onmitsukido squads."
Dainosuke clapped a hand on Tsukiro’s shoulder as he approached. “Always busy, aren’t you? Good to see you're keeping things in order. And hey, don’t think I won’t notice if you sneak off without grabbing lunch. I didn’t raise you to run on fumes.” He shot a playful glance at Natsumi before adding with a grin, “So will you be home for dinner tonight?”
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Post by Captain Tsukiro Ashimitsu on Oct 15, 2024 16:01:42 GMT -6
Tsukiro nodded with a smile at his father. "Count on it. Kaori and I both will be there." He rested his hand to his father's shoulder in return and smiled to his step-mother. "Time for me to get going. I will see you both tonight.""Have a good day, Tsuki-kun," Natsumi waved to him. "And thank you for the kind gifts." Tsukiro smiled and nodded to her. "Don't mention it. Enjoy."
He headed off out through the courtyard to head back to Second Division to finish out the rest of his day. -END- "Reunion and Reflection"
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