|
Post by Makino Tori on Jul 26, 2016 22:10:21 GMT -6
Makino reached over the back of the couch and rubbed Ruki's back as she looked to Sojiro. "Soji-kun. I know you're upset, but don't blame Riku for what is going on. You could have come to any of us to talk to. Not just Riku."
Sojiro's look snapped back to Makino as she reached over the back of the couch trying to comfort his friend. "Like you could help me! You know nothing about me! The only thing you want to do is get revenge on one of my family members for killing your father!"
Makino froze, her eyes going wide as her heart sank into her stomach, the air knocked from her lungs as her blood ran cold and body chilled. She could say nothing. Only look at the boy that stood in front of her. His rage striking out at everyone around him.
"Is that why you hang around me is to get information or to get close to them so you can get your revenge?"
Makino stumbled back from the couch as her hand slid across Riku's back. She looked away from Sojiro as a tears started to form. "I will be leaving you alone then if that is what you think." Quickly she turned and walked swiftly to the door, her hand drawn to her forehead hiding her tear soaked eyes.
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 26, 2016 22:34:18 GMT -6
Sojiro's eyes widened as tears filled her eyes and she spun away, his fury falling with rising shame, especially when he realized Riku was crying too. And it wasn't because of the deaths. He'd driven them to this. With his careless words.
Sojiro growled as the door creeked open, hands fisting in his uniform. "No! Wait!" he called out voice scratchy. She paused. "I- I didn't mean it..." he whispered. "Any of it. I- I just don't know how..." he sighed. "I don't know what to do anymore."
He looked to Riku. "I was barely coping with my mother vanishing after she nearly killed herself healing my father. After three years of him being a meatsack for the most sadistic fiend Las Noches has at its disposal."
He looked back to Maki. "And now, now something else happened...and I didn't want to burden you. But you came in...and I didn't want to be the perfect genius anymore. I didn't want to hide my emotions. And protect you guys. I didn't care if I have more power than both of you because of my heritage. I just..."
He lowered his head. "I just wanted to be angry and hurt at the world for letting someone like Take-jii and Kyoraku be killed."
He paused. "I'm sorry."
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jul 27, 2016 9:53:48 GMT -6
Makino did not turn around as he spoke, she only nodded her head as she wiped away the tears that had fallen. The door was still opened slightly with her back still toward Sojiro and Riku. Sojiro's words might have been spoken out of anger and his hurt, but most times when words are spoke like that it is what they truly feel. They just would not have spoke them any other time just to save face. And even though he apologized, it did not make the sting of them any less.
"I am sorry for what has happened to you and your family Sojiro. I know my family was not the only one that suffered during the Takeover and we were by far not one that suffered the most. But we all still suffered. No matter how great or small we all have a sad story. I am sorry I let my emotions get the best of me causing me to attack a good friend. I am sorry I blamed your Aunt for my Fathers death." Her tears started to flow again as her head hung down now.
"But my feelings about what happen in the past does not change how I feel about you." She turned and looked at him. "I consider you my best friend." Her head shook. "But if this is how you truly feel about me, maybe it is best if our friendship ends." Another tear rolled down her cheek. "I don't want to bring you any more heartache or worry than you already have."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 27, 2016 10:16:07 GMT -6
"I really don't want that, Maki," Sojiro murmured, running a hand through his hair, looking at the blood and sighing again. "I lost my temper, and I've had all sorts of terrible scenarios going through my head. I... I don't want to fall into a trap. So I.... I lashed out to get away from it all. You guys," he looked to Riku again, "both of you are important to me. I'm sorry I hurt you." He sat on the couch once more, his stomach growling loudly. "And I'm sorry I went for your weaknesses. It was a terrible thing for me to do. I don't know what I was thinking."
His head lowered again. "Well, maybe I do. When Dad gets hurt, he did the same thing. He would use anything to get away from the pain. I guess... I learned the same thing... but never was hurt enough to do it." He rubbed his knuckles. "Until now."
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jul 27, 2016 11:33:23 GMT -6
Riku cautiously leaned over and laid his head down on Sojiro's shoulder, wiping the leftover tears from his face. "We all have been through hell. Our own personal hell, not anyone else's. We've all suffered the same amount but in different ways and for different reasons. You can't compare one person's suffering with another's. And we all have to help each other grieve and let it out. Bottling things like this just makes it worse."
He lifted up and stood up from the couch long enough to walk over to Makino and take her by the hand. He pulled her back over to the couch and sat her down beside him. He pulled both of them against him, laying Makino's head on his right shoulder and Sojiro's on his left. He hugged them both at the same time. "Maki-chan, I'm sorry your father was killed. Whoever did it or whoever was responsible should not have done so, whatever the excuse." He kissed the top of her head and patted her.
"And Soji-kun, I'm sorry about everything. Your mother running off, your father not being able to be here, everything that happened in Las Noches and most of all for the loss of your family members. You shouldn't have to go through all this. You deserve to just be able to be happy and content with all your family members together. You shouldn't have to be burdened with so much responsibility and pain." He kissed Sojiro's head as well and patted him.
"We all need to get our heads on straight," Riku recalled what Captain Ashimitsu had told him yesterday.
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jul 27, 2016 13:33:00 GMT -6
Makino lifted her head about the same time Sojiro did from Riku's shoulder. There was nothing more that could be said, Riku had said it well. she just hoped Sojiro was listening to him. She looked at them both, then heard Sojiro's stomach growl once more. She shook her head and pushed up off the couch.
"I am going to fix us something to eat." She looked mainly at Riku next. "Sit and talk to him. He needs to talk to sort all this out in his head." She patted Sojiro on the shoulder and smiled warmly at him.
"If I am needed you know where I am." He nodded with a slight smile as she turned and walked to the kitchen disappearing from their sight.
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 27, 2016 13:55:29 GMT -6
Sitting up, Sojiro watched her walk towards the kitchen and then looked to Riku. "Thank you, Riku," he said in quiet voice. He looked at his hands. "You're right. I shouldn't bottle it up. It's something I already knew. But... at the same time, it's something I've gotten used to." He folded his hands together. "In Las Noches I didn't want my mother to worry more or my father's anger to blind him further. I didn't want to be too much of a target. Or too much of a weakness. And when everyone got free... I just kept it up. Mom...." He ducked his head, grabbing at his head. "She nearly killed herself trying to wake Dad and then she ran off with Vale. I don't even know if she's being smart or just giving up. If I should support her or bring her back. I know that Vale as he is now won't hurt her. But I don't know what changes him. If that will change their relationship into....." His voice faded, recalling his mother's screams that had gradually changed with the pregnancy. He shook his head. He was queasy enough without food. "And now, the best person to talk to about all this is gone.... and Kyo.... And I didn't even learn enough from either of them."
He sighed. "And there's still the talk, the rumors, and I might be better at dealing with them now, but with this, I don't know if I can stop from hurting someone."
He fell silent.
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jul 27, 2016 15:17:49 GMT -6
"I... I don't really understand or relate to most of this, but... I also don't think that you could do much about the situation with your mom. Adults--parents--they say they're doing what they think is right, but sometimes they also do things just because they want to. They can do stuff like that. I'm sure it has to do with love and emotions like that, but we can't really understand that at the age we are now."
Riku put a hand on Sojiro's shoulder and squeezed. "As for protecting everyone, you can't do that right now. Not as you are now, because just as you said, your teacher has left you without teaching you everything. So before you start trying to protect everyone, or worrying that you can or can't, you should find a way to finish your training. That's the best thing you can do for everyone right now. Learn and continue learning and grow stronger so that you can do your part. And in the mean time, let the people who can protect those you love in this moment take on the responsibility.
"And finally, you just have to ignore the rumors. Lieutenant Namori and Captain Ashimitsu told me to toughen up and not let things bother me so much. We're in the same boat, so I think we both need to thicken our skin. The less you react to them, the less ammunition they'll have against you."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 27, 2016 16:41:29 GMT -6
Sojiro shrugged. "I don't really care what they say about me or even dad. It's mom and my aunt."
He looked up as Makino came back with a big bowl of fried rice. "That's probably why I reacted to your attack the way I did. I was there. I know what Mom went through and I saw enough with Yumiko, too. They have no right to attack them. They weren't there. And," he paused as Makino pushed a bowl of the dish into his hand, "when I was angry, I grouped everything together. Even if I haven't thought you were the same as those people. You've worked at getting the truth.... and though I worry what you will do when you find it..... I didn't- don't think you're wrong or mean for doing that."
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jul 27, 2016 17:16:08 GMT -6
Makino took a few bites of her rice then looked over to Sojiro. "Eat. You won't amount to a bowl of dried rice if you don't eat." She looked back to your own food pausing for a few seconds.
"Would you think bad of me if I said I was going to give up the hunt for my father's killer?" She lifted her head and looked to Sojiro once more. "Before you say anything. I thinks its best if I did. I already know his killer is linked to your family somehow." She cast her eyes down. "I don't know who it is, but I am afraid of what it could or might do to your friendship if I found out." She rested a hand to his knee.
"Your friendship means too much to me to lose you." She then smiled warmly at him. "And I know my Father died an honorable death. He died protecting what and who he loved most."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 28, 2016 9:04:32 GMT -6
Sojiro set his chopsticks down and covered her hand with his own. “Are you sure about this? I mean,” he looked down, “I know how much finding the truth means to you.”She nodded. “I’m sure. I think it’s best this way.” Sojiro’s face lifted in a small genuine smile. “I’m glad for you.” He looked to his bowl of rice again, lifting his chopsticks. “Ukitake would- would have been proud of you, too. Not many choose to let something like that go, but….” he rolled a carrot around his bowl, “it’s what needs to happen for us to escape the darkness Sousuke Aizen threw us into.” He closed his eyes. “I broke a few things of yours, Riku-kun, but I will repair or replace them. Soon…” His hands clenched. “When they find mom…” Daichi scurried up his shoulder, licking his cheek. Sojiro took another bite. He needed to regain his energy. “Thank you, Maki-chan, Riku-kun. For being here.” Riku rubbed his head. Makino started eating again as well. “Don’t shovel it. We don’t want you sick on top of having an empty stomach.” Sojiro shrugged. “I’ll manage. I need to see if Kenji is around and then…. I am going to train.” “Already?” Riku inquired, sitting up. Sojiro nodded. “I can’t let the pain win. I…..” he looked to his friends, “I can’t let Sousuke Aizen win.” Riku and Makino frowned. “I don’t think we understand,” Riku started, “I mean it sounds like you believe he is alive.” Sojiro closed his eyes, considering, and then sat up, his eyes hard azure shards. “There is something you should know about me before you get any closer to me.” He slowly stood and walked over to his zanpakuto, picking it up from where he had left it. He faced his friends again. “If he is alive, he will come for me. And if I am not strong enough, he will destroy me.” He drew his blade. “That’s what he promised the day he let my mother, brother, and I live.”
I won't give up. I won't let the darkness win. Just like they did, I'll keep going. It's what I have to do.
|
|
|
Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jul 28, 2016 13:02:01 GMT -6
"A Stroll": (continued) Kita watched as his friends took their leave and disappeared down the hall, she closed to door once more and turned to her eldest son a tear forming in her eye a she looked him over well. His hands were wounded and he looked like he had not sleep in days. She stepped toward him kneeling down next to him and Kadaj as she cupped Sojiro cheek.
"I am sorry. I hope what I did is not the reason for the way you are now. I did not mean to hurt you. I just..."Sojiro shook his head slightly and gave her another weak smile. "No mom. Though I was worried about you and Daj, but you're here now." He reached out for his mother pulling her into his arms giving her a hug as she started to cry. "Don't cry, please. You know I hate it when you cry.""Toji right mommy. No cry." Kadaj wrapped his arms around his mother as well.Kita shook her head as she wiped her tears away. "I wanted to take you with us. I really did and I have missed you so much in this last week. We all have."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 28, 2016 13:19:30 GMT -6
Sojiro nodded. “I believe you,” he said in carefully even tone. His stomach growled again and Daichi chittered at him. “I need to eat some more – if I can. Take a seat.” He pulled back, adjusting Kadaj in his arms. “After I eat, you little man need to help me fix something. Can you do that?”
Kadaj shook his head. “No. I fix Toji first. Toji sad.”
Sojiro chuckled quietly. “I’ll be okay, Daj. It’s …. it’s something that goes away with time.” He looked to his mother again. "Where are you guys hiding? Kisuke's looked everywhere."
|
|
|
Post by Kita Miyamoto on Jul 28, 2016 13:28:18 GMT -6
She hung her head with his question, then looked back up at him. "We have been staying here in the Soul Society, but I don't want you telling your Grandfather that. When I am ready I will talk to him," she paused taking a deep breath. "Along with all the others." Another longer pause came from her as she fidgeted with her hands on her lap as she looked at them.
"How...how is your father?" She looked up at him falling silent once again.
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jul 28, 2016 13:34:12 GMT -6
Sojiro didn't respond immediately, watching her fingers. "I haven't seen him since you left," he finally stated. "I needed to catch up in school. Kisuke was watching him... but he's here now. There hasn't been a good way to bring it up yet." He looked down, set Kadaj on his lap and picked up his discarded food. "I think he'll snap out of it though."
He glanced up. "Mom, don't wait too long to talk to him please. He needs to hear from you."
|
|