|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jan 7, 2017 17:04:22 GMT -6
“I’m not quite where he wants me,” Sojiro murmured, “so perhaps his minions and he will stay away from the Academy. For now.”
Mitsuo leaned back in his chair. “You’re making it seem like he wants you for something besides leverage on your family.”
Sojiro nodded. He looked to Riku and Makino. “I told them this a while ago, but he threatened my life that day we took back our freedom on the Takeover.” He looked to the window. “Mom, Daj, and I were in hiding, but he found us. He was going to take mother — or kill her if she wouldn’t go with him. I challenged him. He, in turn, set down his own threat.”
“What was it?”
Sojiro looked back to Mitsuo. “Next time we see each other on a battlefield I had better kill him or he will destroy me.”
Riku interrupted. “Does that mean kill you at a time of his choosing or something else? I mean because he didn’t kill you when his guys took you before.”
“I think it means he wants me to take my father’s place. If he can bring that darkness out of me.” Sojiro looked outside again. “Besides the anger that came out of me at the deaths of Kyoraku and Take-jii, I don’t think I’ve shown darkness… but I do know that I don’t remember the first time in Las Noches. Perhaps something happened then and that’s why the Soul King sealed my memories.”
He sighed and looked over to his friends again. “It’s not just my father’s heritage he’s after, though. Because my mother is the vessel for a goddess, I have godly powers. He wants those.” Daichi leapt onto his shoulder. “Daichi’s my guide in that, as well.” He looked back to Mitsuo. “I told the others some of this before. Riku’s known for a while. He knew Daichi was different. And I told Maki on our first date. But I wanted you to know too. Now that he has Mom, it's just another secret he could try to use to his advantage."
|
|
|
Post by Mitsuo Hayashi on Jan 7, 2017 17:22:24 GMT -6
Mitsuo sat back in his chair and looked to his friend as he sat next to Makino. His arms crossed over his chest. "So you're like you mother. Powers of a God."
Sojiro nodded slowly. "I was blessed with mine though through birth."
Mitsuo cocked his head with a puzzled look. "So how did your mother gets hers?"
Sojiro shrugged. "Destiny?"
"Destiny? Your mother is human right?" Sojiro nodded as Mitsuo fell into thought as he rubbed his chin. He looked over at Makino and Riku then back to Sojiro. "Is the Goddess a God of history?" His fingers snapped as he tried to remember what the type of God she would have been.
"A Seraph..." the word rang out in the room as all four of them said it.
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jan 7, 2017 17:54:02 GMT -6
"A seraph..." Riku repeated. "A god that's reborn every one hundred years for the purpose of recording the history and events of the realms and the people in it. The god is marked with a faint star on their neck under their left ear that only gods and those with godly powers can see. Seraphs are very rare and are protected by their vessels, whom they chose based on the paths they have been set on. The god itself is born with the vessel."
Riku took up a cup of tea and sipped it. "And most importantly, no one, not even the vessel, is to be aware of what they are. They fulfill their duty in secret."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jan 7, 2017 18:02:42 GMT -6
Sojiro sighed. “Which was completely destroyed when Aizen found her.”
“Why didn’t the Soul King, Sumi, or another God kill Aizen for finding her?” Mitsuo muttered. “It would be a lot easier on us if they had.”
“The Gods can’t kill, remember? And the Soul King rarely interferes in anything.” He looked at his hands again. “It also could be because of Aizen’s heritage, too.”
“Heritage?” Riku inquired.
Sojiro rubbed the back of his head. “Don’t panic.” The group nodded. “There are two more things you need to know, and please don’t treat me differently. And do NOT tell anyone else. It’s not wide knowledge. Aizen is an Eva.” Their eyes widened. “And the Soul King gave a few of us immortality at the end of the Takeover, Aizen and myself included. And that doesn’t mean he can’t be defeated!” he called out quickly, hoping to stop the flood.
It didn’t work.
|
|
|
Post by Mitsuo Hayashi on Jan 7, 2017 18:12:27 GMT -6
Mitsu shot up out of his seat. "AIZEN IS IMMORTAL!? WHAT KIND OF CRUEL JOKE IS THE SOUL KING TRYING TO TELL US?!"
Sojiro sighed. "I don't KNOW! But calm down!"
"CALM DOWN! IF HE'S IMMORTAL WE'RE BETTER OFF SURRENDERING AND HOPING HE DOESN'T PAY ATTENTION TO US!"
Sojiro got to his feet. "You're wrong! He can be defeated. It's happened before and it will happen again!" He grabbed Mitsuo's shirt. "Calm down, Mitsuo Hayashi," he stated, eyes narrowed, voice pitched differently, lower, smoother, his eyes sober like water on a undisturbed lake. "Let me tell you something else. He was immortal at the end of the Takeover. But he can still be defeated. Kyoraku and Captain Kuchiki and Kisuke nearly sealed him. He pulled a trick to escape but he still hid. This isn't over unless you believe it is." He let him go. "Before that, my father ripped his heart out. He barely survived that as well. Do. not give in."
Mitsuo turned as his head shook, his fingers combing through his hair. "I am going back to my room. I have studying to do for HoHo class tomorrow." Stopping at the door he looked back at Sojiro. "I never give up, or in, but dealing with an immortal is a whole new game."
He turned back to the door as it opened and left the room.
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jan 7, 2017 18:47:31 GMT -6
Riku sunk back into the couch and pulled his knees up to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. He buried his face in his knees. "Things are always going to be like this, aren't they? Nothing is going to change. There were so many chances to kill him the first time and even early on, but every single time there was failure."
It honestly felt like they were fighting a losing battle from the beginning. Why were they even fighting anymore? What was the point? Even if they sealed him, he was still alive. He couldn't be killed. They sealed him the first time he tried to conquer Soul Society and he got out. So why were they trying to do so now when they knew it didn't work. It never worked.
"This is our fate, isn't it? We're going to struggle against him until there's nothing left of the realms but hollows and gods and Aizen. I wish... I wish he'd never been born. I wish someone would have seen who he'd become right when he'd entered this world and gotten rid if him before this ever happened... What did we ever do to deserve this?"
Riku's shoulders shook and he hugged his knees tighter, as if making himself as small as possible would protect him somehow.
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jan 7, 2017 19:13:30 GMT -6
Riku's funk finally pulled Makino out of her thoughts as she looked over to him. "Really?" She released Sojiro's hand and stood looking pointedly at Riku. "What are you a spineless excuse for a man?" She shook her head with a sigh as he looked up at her with his pitiful eyes. "I am sorry Riku I don't mean to be mean. However, life it full of jerks like Aizen. They may not be as strong as he is or have the knowledge he has, but in time they could be just as dangerous as he is."
She stepped around the table over to where Mitsuo was sitting moments before and stood behind it, her hands resting to the back of it. "Without the trials dealt to us from the ones trying to destroy us we stagnate as a person and in our powers. We need challenge to advance and grow stronger as a person not just physically, but mentally as well." She nodded slowly as she turned and started walking a path across the floor. "Yes, Aizen is our greatest adversary, but if it was not him it would be someone else. That don't mean we give up, crawl into a hole and whimper about how life is over for us."
She stopped at Riku's side and leaned down next to his ear. "It means we stand tall, become stronger and find a way to defeat this guy once and for all. There is a way. Nothing or no one is invincible. Not even a God. We have taken him down a few notches in the past we have held him captive as well. It can be done again and we can stop him once and for all." She lifted, looking at Riku.
"If we give up, then it is over and if you're one that wants to give up you don't need to be here. We don't need quitters in our ranks. That only makes the ranks weak and flawed."
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jan 7, 2017 19:31:16 GMT -6
Riku stood up and gave Makino the same pointed look. "You honestly think that a man like Aizen can be stopped once and for all? The Soul King made him immortal! Probably for his own sick satisfaction! Who's to say he won't release him even if we do capture him!? The bastard made that man immortal and let him continue to spread corruption through the realms! What kind of a king makes the very thing plaguing his people IMMORTAL?! If we're all enslaved or dead because of Aizen, he'll have nothing left to rule or protect or whatever the hell he does sitting up there in his unreachable palace! The gods can't kill him and the Soul King made him immortal, so how does anyone expect us to defeat someone like Aizen when we have nothing to fight him with but willpower and our own bare hands!"
After calming down, Riku sat back down on the couch, casting his gaze away. "You can't blame us for losing hope over a thing like that. We may not be weak like humans, but we still feel and bleed like they do. And we're certainly weaker than those in Las Noches. I'm not giving up on my life. Or on my friends and family's lives. But you can't just tell us a thing like that and then expect us to stay hopeful. Blind hope isn't an easy thing to have."
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jan 7, 2017 19:44:33 GMT -6
Makino cuffed the back of Riku's head with narrowed eyes. "THEN YOU GROW STRONGER!" She stormed away from him. "And yes. That is when you let blind faith take over. Never once would you see Captain Ukitake let something like this get him down." She made a fist and punched the air.
"He would tell us to keep our heads up, train and get stronger! Never give up! Because the second you do, that is when Aizen strikes!" She looked at Riku and pointed at Sojiro. "Soji-kun and his family did not give up. The ones taken in the Takeover did not give up. They fought and they are now free because of it. WHY?! Because they had faith and I am sure they felt like they were never going to get out of there. Hell, they were there for seven years."
"Stop with the poor poor pitiful me, Riku. You joined the Academy to stop jerks like Aizen. HELL! TO STOP AIZEN! If you are feeling this way now then you might as well drop out now. Because it is ONLY going to get worse. Not better."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jan 7, 2017 20:14:18 GMT -6
“Will both of you please stop?” Sojiro called out. He walked over and took Makino’s hand and then looked to his best friend. He sighed at the bleak expression on his face. “To know the stakes of the war you’re putting yourself in, you needed to know all the facts. Even more so when you could now be in the thick of it.” He sat down again. “I didn’t tell you to make you give up or focus on the negative side. I gave you the truth so you were aware of a fact he may use to break you if you were taken. Secrets are only another weapon he can use.”
He let Makino go and set a hand on Riku’s shoulder. “Part of being a leader is believing in the right side. Part of being a warrior is fighting for an ideal. Do you think that the ideal is something that we would reach easily? No, and that’s not the point. The point is to have a goal to reach for. A reason to push yourself.”
“Finally, if this battle was pointless, the Gods wouldn’t have helped a few times, directly or indirectly. I know it’s hard at times. I’ve been but a foot away from my mother being raped, screaming. I’ve seen my aunt slowly change after too much time with Aizen. I’ve seen the look in my mother and father’s eyes change. But I’ve also seen the reverse.”
He chuckled. “And if you had seen Take-jii coughing and bleeding but standing up to Aizen, if you had seen Tsukiro try to protect me from Aizen and Vale even without a blade, you’d know that this war is not over. People have hope.” Sojiro released his friend’s shoulder. "And they are not alone."
|
|
|
Post by Riku Asuhara on Jan 7, 2017 21:09:26 GMT -6
Riku tried to clear his head of the fog of doubt, but with every swipe it kept gathering. He couldn't imagine how Sojiro and his family could keep fighting in the face of failure. And then part of Sojiro's words rang in his head. He blinked and looked up. "W-wait. You said... Captain Ashimitsu protected you from Aizen without a weapon?! He stood up to Aizen barehanded?!"
Sojiro nodded with a smile. "Yes, he did. More than once. A couple time for me and couple times for my mother when she started to come out of her darkness." He paused. "We mattered more than his safety."
Riku's friends definitely mattered more than his safety. And Captain Ashimitsu was brave enough to protect those he loved without anything to fight with. Once again, Riku was reminded of how much he admired and idolized the captain. And if he wanted to be in his squad, then he had to follow Captain Ashimitsu's example.
Riku slapped his cheeks and rubbed them until they were red, growling in frustration at himself. "Even the captain didn't back down when he didn't have his Zanpakuto. What the hell am I thinking? If I lose faith now, I'll just look like a loser to both the captain and especially the lieutenant! Then he'll really chew my ass out! I don't want Lieutenant Namori scolding me again!"
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jan 7, 2017 21:32:05 GMT -6
Makino chuckled lightly shaking her head as she looked to the floor. "Whatever it takes." She looked back to Riku. "Good to have you back, Riku."
She looked over at Sojiro and smiled. "I have something for you if we are done here."
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jan 7, 2017 21:59:32 GMT -6
Sojiro smiled in turn and then turned back to Riku. “I think that’s all you need to know. And I have time to tell you more — if I need to. Any questions, Riku-kun?”
Riku stood up. “None from me, just this.” He pulled Makino and Sojiro into a group hug. “Sojiro’s right. We’re not fighting this alone, and I’m in good shape with people like you two. We’ll get stronger and we’ll protect each other.”
Sojiro nodded with another smile as Makino giggled.
Riku leapt back. “I’m going out now. Remember to hang something on the door this time~”
“Riku!” Sojiro squeaked.
Makino giggled again and Riku waved as he closed the door.
Sojiro blushed and rubbed at his hair before turning to his girlfriend. He pulled her into his arms. “Thank you for standing by me and being strong.” He stepped back. “But before you spoil me, there’s something else I need to do.” He tugged her back to the couch and sat down with his hand in hers. “Now that you know the truth about my mother, is there any other questions you have? And do you forgive me for not telling you?”
|
|
|
Post by Makino Tori on Jan 7, 2017 22:28:24 GMT -6
Makino smiled at him. "I am fine. I have to keep reminding myself that my father was doing his job. He was protecting what was important to him. I can't blame him or even the one that killed him for what he was doing. It happens. Its part of the job. We go into this knowing the consequences." She cupped Sojiro's cheek. "I am just glad he died with honor and died protecting what he loved."
A tear rolled down her cheek as she smiled through it at Sojiro. "That's how I want to die." Before Sojiro could wipe away her tears she moved quickly back shifting on the couch and picked up a brown wrapped package from the floor at her feet. She handed it to Sojiro as he took took it from her she started to speak again.
"I wanted you to have one." As Sojiro started to open it she continued. "Riku helped me pick it out." She fell silent for a second as he opened it enough to see the dark orange, yellow and green fabric peek from the packaging. "You know you're really hard to get gifts for."
Sojiro lifted it slowly as the kimono unfolded into his lap. It was a forest setting in late fall with snow falling. On the back was the painting of a red fox curled up with its tail wrapped around him and dusted lightly with the snow gently falling around him.
|
|
|
Post by Sojiro Ichimaru on Jan 7, 2017 22:36:28 GMT -6
Sojiro's eyes widened and he caressed the fox sleeping. "It's beautiful, Makino. Your mother is truly an artist with a brush and kimono in hand." He slowly folded it up again and lifted her chin up, kissing her gently. "Thank you for such an honor, darling. I hope this is enough a gift for today." Shifting closer, he kissed her ear. His heart pounded, and he swallowed.
"Soji-kun?" she whispered.
He closed his eyes. "I love you, Maki Hachidori Masanobu." He opened his eyes and said it again, this time smiling, admitting it and accepting the danger that came with those words. He brushed a tear from her eye. "I love you."
|
|