Previous: Unexpected Advice
Tsukiro's mind traveled at 800 miles an hour as he sat at his desk in his room.
Was he content? Not in the slightest.
Was he willing to face the consequences of knowing too much?
...
He didn't know.
His father had always called him a prodigy. Before Tsukiro had decided to become a shinigami, his father had taught him the shinigami ways; Kido, Hakuda, Zanjutsu, and Hoho. His father was a member of Squad Two and the Stealth Force, and, as such, he didn't see him as much as he would have liked as a kid. He was a low ranking seated member, but Tsukiro knew that he was strong nonetheless. His father worked hard at this job and, for the longest, that was what mattered most to him: working hard, regardless of abilities and rank.
He always called him a prodigy.
No. People like Toshiro Hitsugaya were prodigies. Tsukiro just thought too much. Tsukiro had what his mother always called "a gifted mind with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge."
Tsukiro was a living, breathing encyclopedia of knowledge, ranging from hell to Heaven and everything in between. No great abilities. No special powers. Just him and his overly-active brain.
You achieved Bankai a week after you learned my name.
"That's because I practiced, trained and meditated with you all the time because Father had already taught me everything that my lessons were trying to teach me. I had a head start."
You were first to connect Hitsugaya to the Seraph.
"Luck and my over-active brain."
You were smart an clever enough to make the instructors at Shino Academy think you were only at lower seat level so they wouldn't assign you as a captain class shinigami.
"It wasn't that hard, Kotaishi. It doesn't take a genius to faux a test like that. The trick is not making it seem like you're holding back."
Out of arguments to make, Kotaishi was silent.
Tsukiro sighed and stared down at the two tickets Captain Ukitake had given him.
"Mother," he said in a far off voice. "You'd know what to do."
Tsukiro closed his eyes and stared at the blackness behind his eye lids.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mama!" a young boy with wild wisps of black hair called as he strutted around the huge complex that was the Shihoin Palace.
"Mama!"
He peeked into the noble ladies' courtyard, where he knew she would be. The courtyard was filled with women and young ladies of noble birth, all giggling and gossiping with one another. Amongst them was a beautiful young woman with long, flowing silver-white hair and midnight blue eyes with hints of violet. She may have been beautiful, but she was not of noble birth. She was their lady-in-waiting.
"Mama, there you are!" he ran to her.
She turned to him. "Tsukiro! YOu know you're not supposed to be here!"
The little Tsukiro jumped into her arms and hugged her tightly. "I know, but I missed you!"
The noble laidies cooed and fawned over him.
"Oh, Aoitsuki, your eldest son is so adorable!"
"He looks just like his father!"
"Yes, well, he's energetic like his brother as well," Tsukiro's mother hugged him back.
"Speaking of, how old is Ryushiro?"
"He's ten now."
"Already?!"
"Gosh! They both are growing up so fast!"
"I know." Tsukiro smiled and giggled when Aoitsuki Ashimitsu nosed his cheek lovingly.
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"Tsukiro, wait! Why are you so good at everything?!" Ryshiro Ashimitsu whined at his older brother by five years.
Ryushiro was a small thing with short, scruffy silver-white hair and violet eyes. He had a round face like their mother. He was the more hyperactive of the two brothers.
"Because I practice! If you'd take some time away from drawing and following the cooks around, I'd help you with it," Tsukiro said as he dribbled a Kemari ball.
Ryushiro crossed his arms and pouted. "I do! But every time I do, either you have your nose in a book and don't want to be bothered or Father is teaching you all that shinigami stuff!"
Tsukiro observed his brother's disappointed expression. Then he smiled. "Then I'll take time off and teach you."
Ryushiro smiled back and uncrossed his arms. Tsukiro kicked he ball gently to him. However, Ryushiro kicked it too hard and it went flying across the courtyard and into an open room.
"Oops!"
"It's alright. I'll get it."
Tsukrio jogged over to the room. Looking inside, he immediately spotted the ball. He quietly entered and picked it up.
A chill ran down his spine and he cast his eyes forward into the darkness of the room.
A sea of blood...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tsukiro's eyes snapped oven and he gasped. Sweat trailed down the back of his neck.
His mother and brother...
You not only thirst for knowledge, you thirst for both revenge and closure.
"Who wouldn't after something like that?"
Then what are you doing sitting there debating with yourself?
With hands shaking, Tsukiro picked up the tickets. He was just about to tear them up when he stopped.
Part 4: Second Meeting
