Previous: Did curiosity kill the cat... or make it stronger?
(Small edits. courtesy of a certain captain who loves to bug the living hell out of me it seems...)
Tsukiro Ashimitsu was officially a fool.
What he was about to do would be the record breaker of all things stupid.
Kairo was asleep out on the living room couch. He was a heavy sleeper, so Tsukiro didn’t bother trying to minimize his noise level. He simply got up, got dressed in his shihakusho, threw a dark, hooded haori around him.
On the rooftop above the window sat a silent cloaked figure quietly in the dark. He wanted to keep an eye on this young soul reaper.
Tsukiro froze just as he was about to throw on the haori. He thought he sensed something. His blood ran cold but he ignored his budding fear and walked over to the window.
Sticking his head out, he looked around the darkened courtyard. He didn't see anything. Of course it was pitch black, but even so, he felt nothing that would suggest another attempt on his life.
He sighed and shuddered, walking away from the window. "I need to get over this. Fast."
He walked over to the sleeping snow leopard, tangled in the covers, and shook him awake.
Kotaishi awoke with a start. “Wha~? Wha’s wrong?”
“Shhh!” he hushed the leopard. “Hurry back into your sword. We’re going.”
“Going where?” Kotaishi rubbed his eyes. “Master, you should be resting.”
“I’ve had enough rest. Now get up.”
Kotaishi groaned, but did as he was told. Back in to his sword he went. Tsukiro picked him up and slipped him onto his waist at the small of his back, Stealth Force style. He looked around then found the last item he required: the small, silvery marble Captain Ukitake gave him.
He bit his bottom lip as he picked it up and slipped it underneath the palm of his gloves so it wouldn’t fall out. He was definitely sure this was not why Ukitake had given it to him. However, he had been a burden for too long. Now he needed to find the strength he knew he had inside of him.
“With my training, Hitsugaya-taicho should never have tricked me like that. If he had been someone else, I’d be dead.” Tsukiro clenched his jaw. “Time to fix that… Sensei.”
No more weakness.
“And just how do you plan on doing that? Going out and getting hurt again?”
Tsukiro turned to see Kairo standing in the doorway. He walked up to him. “Kairo, you don’t understand. I have to--”
“Oh I understand perfectly,” Kairo snapped. “What I don’t understand is why you can’t just wait until Captain Ukitake gets back.”
“Because…” Tsukiro looked down and to the side. “Because I don’t have that kind of time.”
“And why not?”
He looked back at his friend with fire in his eyes. “Because if I stay, I’ll only be burdening Ukitake-taicho. You too.” He shook his head. “I can’t stay knowing that I’m a danger to everyone around me just by knowing too much. I have to regain the strength I know I have, so I’ll be able to protect those people.”
Kairo stood there in silence, his arms crossed over his chest. His pyjamas and bed head betrayed the stern look in his eyes. “Where are you going?”
“If I tell you, you’ll tell others, or someone might hurt you to find out where I am.”
“You said ‘sensei.’ Do you know where she is?”
Tsukiro said nothing.
“You can’t tell me that either?”
He shook his head.
Kairo uncrossed his arms and tilted his head back with an exasperated sigh. “You are so impossibly stubborn.” He looked like a little kid, but Tsukiro knew he was at his breaking point. “There’s nothing I can say to get you to stay?”
“No… I’m sorry.”
Kairo gave him one last sad look before moving out of his way. He gestured to the doorway. “Then go. You win. Again.”
Tsukiro bowed slightly to his friend and walked out. “I’ll try and be back as soon as I can.”
He stopped then turned back. “Don’t tell Ukitake-taicho.”
Kairo nodded hesitantly, then Tsukiro was gone.
Again.
“Why is it always like this with you, Tsukiro…?”
Part 11: Reunion
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Ukitake-taicho, sorry. This alters our plans slightly, due to... an unexpected burst of inspiration.
((And you all get to see who "sensei" and "otosan" are soon. If you haven't guessed already.))
