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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Jul 24, 2015 12:59:07 GMT -6
Evita chuckled and licked her spoon. “I want a piggy back ride after I finish my ice cream.”
Ichigo turned around and scratched his head. “Sure thing, kid.” He sat down on the couch, pulling the newspaper out and folding it up. “So what else am I missing here?” he asked. With her on his side, he could definitely smash the damned Fourth’s opinion of his spying. Evita smirked and scooped up another bite. Looks like she had him.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 20, 2015 16:22:41 GMT -6
"Reading the Child": So much had happened since Aizen had dropped the mask of Gary the Old Man. Las Noches had awakened, unleashing the Ayakashi named Sada Teruo on multiple occasions. As the violence had escalated, Tervaden had reappeared, and his darker side had taken Yumiko with him. Finally, Aizen had snatched his revenge: Kita,Gin, and their son. Even Kisuke’s son had nearly died. Suffice to say that any plans that had been made before the chaos - those not crucial to the rescue of their friends - had been waylaid. Finally, Kisuke had thrown up his hands. He had too much to do with punishing his son, Ishida, and arranging a rescue mission to talk to Evita about Gary-Aizen. But someone had to do it. They needed to know if he had visited her. When Yumiko returned unconscious to the shop, by way of Sumi, Juushiro had stepped up. Kisuke would record their conversation to see if his kind nature had missed anything. The captain had chuckled at the precaution. It was true. Evita was clever and far too good at spinning her tales. He knocked on the door.
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 20, 2015 17:15:12 GMT -6
Evita wandered out of her room as her mother opened the door, revealing the White Knight. She folded her arms, trying to listen in on their conversation, hoping that he was here to prevent her mother’s latest strange combination. She shrugged. She didn’t mind MOST of Orihime’s strange dishes, but she drew a line at pickles and cayenne pepper on her pancakes.
Also, her mom tended to create even more unusual shapes for meals when distressed.
She grinned silently to herself as her mother grabbed her purse, hugged Ukitake, and took off for the grocery store.
And then walked over. “What did you bring me?”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 20, 2015 17:27:57 GMT -6
Juushiro chuckled, pulling out a bag of two take away meals. Evita snatched them up and Juushiro followed her. He laughed lightly as she started munching on the battered shrimp and onion rings, leaving him the fish and chips. He pulled his styrofoam box near him, chuckling again as Evita looked through the bags again to pull out the milkshakes. She sucked on the straw, humming, bright eyes whirling and contented.
Juushiro sipped from his own cup, waiting.
"How's Kenji?" she asked suddenly.
For that.
Juushiro swallowed. "He's fine. He even recovered enough to seek out an adventure, much to his father's dismay."
Evita giggled. "What did he do?"
"Take on one of Aizen's hollows."
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 21, 2015 16:33:38 GMT -6
Evita tilted her head. “Hmmm…. that wasn’t very smart,” she took another long swig from her milkshake, “but he’s stubborn enough to try it.” She picked up an onion ring, taking a bite of the thick, crunchy treat. “Is he grounded?”
“Probably so,” Juushiro admitted. He chuckled. “Kisuke might even consider chaining him to his room, with or without the help he had.”
“Help?” Evita repeated, looking for even more information.
“Ishida-san aided him in his endeavor.”
“Strawberry’s tall and quiet friend?”
The White Knight nodded.
Evita hummed in thought. “But it didn’t work,” she murmured.
“No, it didn’t. The Ayakashi who attacked on the birthday party and killed Vale as you know him was too much for them both.”
Evita hid behind her tall cup, grinning just slightly. She didn’t want to lose her playmate. Honestly.
“But a captain of Soul Society saved their lives and sent the enemy away.”
So Dad didn’t win…. she analyzed to herself.
“That’s good,” she said aloud. “Kenji back in bed then?”
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 24, 2015 10:41:59 GMT -6
“For the moment,” Juushiro replied. “And as long as his parents can enforce it.”
He lowered his cup, eyes on the little smile. It seemed Eve had a secret. Although it could mean something as innocent as teasing Kenji for his actions later, it could mean more. His mind flashed to what Inoue had told him.
“We’re still looking for him, but he’s far too strong to die quietly. I’m sure Kurosaki’s alive.”
The tired woman nodded. “I wish I realized he was different. I should have, but I was too absorbed in Evita being affectionate that I basically ignored Ichigo - I mean Loki. And then when he kissed me….” she lowered her head, “I should have known something was wrong before that. I just should have.”
“Affectionate?” he had prompted, hoping to deter Inoue from more guilt.
A faint smile formed. “She started clinging to me, demanding piggyback rides from Ichigo, and stopped leaving the house,” Inoue murmured, looking behind her for moment. “She’s usually so quiet, and I think that comes from … well, him. But for a while, it seemed like she was warming up to us much more than normal, even returning to the little one who wouldn’t let me out of her sight.”
There were a few possible scenarios in his mind. Evita could have sensed the growing danger since the birthday party and acted as children would, clinging to any parent figures. If Inoue had withdrawn since the attack, she could have gravitated to her mother. But he also had to wonder if the explanation went deeper. With her growing telepathic abilities, had Evita sensed Loki’s true nature and had acted to keep the shifter away from her mother? But then…. why would she have demanded piggyback rides from him?
Had she deliberately kept silent?
That question posed more, among them the disconcerting possibility they worried for.
Had Aizen contacted and won over his daughter?
And what will we do if he has? Can we protect her?
“Evita,” Juushiro began, “I need to talk to you about why Gary is gone, and I’m sorry for waiting. It’s been a busy time.”
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 24, 2015 16:02:18 GMT -6
Evita tilted her head, thinking quickly. “Did he die?” she prompted simply. “Is that why Mom’s quiet about him?” she continued in the same tone.
The White Knight sighed, and Evita got the impression that he wasn’t going to give her a basic explanation. That could make her less gullible. Sipping the milkshake, she considered the puzzle. Wondering how to fool her uncle figure.
"What's wrong?"
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 24, 2015 16:12:46 GMT -6
“Old Man Gary was not who he appeared to be,” Juushiro responded, shaking his head.
The captain was still upset that they had missed Sousuke spying on them for eight years. That - of all things that could have happened - it was one of their worst fears. He shook his head again. He needed to focus.
Juushiro looked back up at Evita, smiling gently in hopes of reassuring her. “He was Sousuke in disguise.” Evita frowned, probably not placing the name. He had done that on purpose. “Also known as Aizen and … your father.”
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 24, 2015 16:49:03 GMT -6
“I know Aizen's my father. I didn’t know the full name,” Evita murmured, still slowly sucking at her drink as she savored the new piece of her information. Her father’s full name. She chuckled as the sweetness swelled in her mouth from a chunk of a peach in the shake. “And he’s pretty clever.”
“Not clever enough,” Ukitake retorted, eyes slightly narrowed. “Ichimaru realized who he was instantly.”
So the fox was reason she’d lost him and had to play this waiting game.
“But he's still clever,” Evita fired back, setting her drink down, not wanting to lose the acuity in her mind. “He beat you all, even Kisuke. Twice now.”
Her mentor sighed, his stern eyes meeting her own. “What have you all overhead, young lady?”
She knew that tone.
And did not want another lecture.
Maybe she could distract him.
She sighed. “Sorry, Take-jii," she murmured, "but Aizen's my name, too. And you guys talk." She sat up, tapping things off on her fingers. "He's a captain. He tricked Soul Society. You fought him.” The White Knight nodded, letting her continue. She paused. “He caught Kita and Yumiko. Kita and the Fox beat him. Also, he likes Sojiro and me better than Kenji, and Vale works for him.”
Oops.
She covered her mouth.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 24, 2015 16:57:44 GMT -6
Juushiro sighed. “Evita Anita Aizen, you know that reaction only makes you look more guilty.” He reached over and lowered her hands. He smiled again. “It tells me that you’re hiding at least one secret, and I can’t let you keep them this time.” He paused, letting his words and the glint in his eyes sink in. “Now tell me what Vale told you.”
“But-”
“Evita,” Juushiro interrupted, "it’s important. More than you taking more than your share of free items or worrying people by hiding. Please.”
She nodded, lowering her head.
“I stopped hiding and Vale told me not to tell anyone.”
“I know, but it might lead us to finding Ichigo and that would make your mother very happy.”
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 25, 2015 9:53:02 GMT -6
Evita hunched and reached for a shrimp, dipping it into her cocktail sauce, eating it before replying. "I saw Vale at the flower shop. When I was hiding and he was playing dead. But he found me and told me things. About my father and Gary." She shrugged. "No one else was telling me anything. And he left with Strawberry after." She reached for another onion ring, twisting away from that look. "He said he would bring him back. But not when. I wanted a secret."
Juushiro nodded. “Did you know that the Kurosaki that returned was fake?”
Evita frowned at him. It was much more difficult to evade direct questions. "Something was off," she muttered, folding her arms.
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 25, 2015 15:48:16 GMT -6
As Evita tensed up, Juushiro took a breath, hoping to calm her down. He reached for more of his lunch and a moment later, she joined him. “Please explain what you mean by that, Evita. Your powers keep growing.”
She grinned at him, sitting up as she reached for her milkshake once more. “There was a darkness around him,” she supplied.
“But you’ve mentioned that the real Kurosaki has a darkness.”
“It’s not red,” she snapped.
Juushiro frowned at her. “If you knew that much, why didn’t you tell anyone, Evita? You could have been in danger.”
Evita shook her head. “He didn’t leave often and Mom's mine. Kisuke would catch him and I was bored!”
Juushiro sighed at her outburst. “Evita, that's no reason to keep quiet about something like this. What if he attacked you?”
“He can’t attack me.”
“How do you know that, Evita?” the captain pressed, hoping he had drawn her in.
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 25, 2015 16:37:15 GMT -6
She rocked back on her heels. She didn’t like it when it seemed she had done wrong. But it was fun and… “I wanted a secret,” she repeated. “You all kept it from me.”
“Evita-” Ukitake started. He sighed and touched her hand, stopping her from throwing the milkshake and wincing as a glass popped in the kitchen. “Calm down, Eve.”
She did like that name. It was pretty. She took a breath and lowered her head. “I’m sorry.” She pulled her knees up to her head and continued to talk. “I wanted to see Dad. Soji has a Dad. Kenji has a Dad. It’s not fair. He said I could see him. I even stopped hiding. I like hiding."
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Post by Captain Juushiro Ukitake on Aug 25, 2015 17:05:05 GMT -6
Juushiro hugged her. “It’s okay, Evita. You’re not alone. You have us, me, Kisuke, Ichigo.”
She shook her head. “It’s not the same. Vale said he’s my Dad. We all have you guys.” She lowered her head, not wanting to show her tears to him. “It was different when Soji’s Dad was sleeping.” Her piercing eyes lifted. “And you didn’t tell me anything!”
Juushiro sighed again. “I’m sorry, Eve. We had to protect everyone. We wanted to tell you sooner, but it wasn’t safe.” He smiled. “Kisuke was going to create a puzzle for you to make it easier, too.”
She tilted her head. “Puzzle? Why do I need it easier?”
Juushiro stroked her head. “Because your father is not the same as the others, Evita.” He paused. “He hurts people. His followers hurt people. And Vale can’t be trusted anymore.”
“But he’s Gary,” she murmured, trying to understand.
“Gary was spying to get ahead in a very real-life game between his side and ours. A game between life and death.” She lowered her head again and he let her, speaking quietly. “It’s like chess but there are consequences.”
“He said I was precious.”
Juushiro sighed. It had been too much to hope for that Aizen would leave her alone. And they had made it easier by not telling her about Gary until now.
“Evita, Aizen may care for you.” She nearly leaped from his arms. “But it is not the same way Gin and Kisuke care for their sons or a father should care for you.”
“What do you mean?”
Juushiro pulled back to give her some space, still holding her hand. “Aizen will have you hurt anyone in his way and that means us,” he explained. “Me, Kisuke, your mother, even Soji or Kenji.”
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Post by Evita Anita Aizen on Aug 25, 2015 17:48:21 GMT -6
Evita pulled even further away from the hug. “But don’t you have to fight to get what you want sometimes?” Evita asked.
Juushiro raised his eyebrows at her. “Like you have to steal?”
She ducked her head. “It’s fun…. and it’s not stealing,” she pouted. “They give it to me.”
“Because you make them. You put your will on theirs and you’re strong than them. It’s not right.”
Evita looked away, petulantly. “It’s fun… and it’s practice.”
“Evita…”
Evita sighed. “I know… I’ll stop.”
But it wasn’t easy. She wanted to get her way. She just did.
She needed a compromise.
“I don’t like staying inside and Kisuke would win. I wanted to see it,” she confessed. She looked up. “Dad said he wouldn’t hurt me.”
She still had one secret - that she hadn’t liked Loki or had got two promises from him before the end. It was enough. For now.
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