BLEACH: Either Or (Prologue)

Prologue: Little Sakura

A black, sleek limousine slowed and stopped on the side of the road. Behind them, another three black cars parked ruthlessly, scorching the pavement. Eight men in a black suit suddenly stepped out. They move into position, hastily glance left and right, and then run towards the park. The window of the limousine lowered, half enough to see the head of the blond man sitting inside. His green eyes flicked towards the park. One of the men in black looked back at him, signalling. He nodded in return. "He’s here," he said, and the woman sitting to his right sigh in relief.

"Is he alright?"

"Yes."

She looks so concern, but Urahara Kisuke noticed she doesn't want to move at all. "Well?"

She turned away. "Do you think he knows?"

"He wouldn't be here if he doesn't," he said.

"I hate this job." She sighed and flipped a strand of her hair away from her face. "How do I look?"

He shrugged - she frowned. "Make it quick," he said as she stepped out of the car. "Look-" he pointed towards the park when she glared back at him. "We're starting to get a lot of attention." Knowing her, he added: "I'm serious, Yuroichi! No more games. I want you both inside this car in two minutes."

She waved her hand at him, as if he was a fly. "Yeah yeah yeah..." and rounded the car. She bobbed her head vaguely to greet few people and crossed the street. "Where is he?" she asked the first man she saw. The man motioned her to one of the Sakura trees. There, Yoruichi saw a boy sitting under on one its branches, holding a book. She controlled herself not to smack the boy's head for running away and, at the same time, proud, for how can a nine year-old kid escaped from their scrutinize eyes. Oh! I taught him that, she said to herself, smiling. Though Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara were tasked to guard the lad ever since he was a toddler, the two of them never considered him nothing but just. However, as age and knowledge progressed, the security of the boy increased as well. Now, as she walked towards the Sakura tree, there are black-suited men everywhere, walking stealthily back and fro, arm's raised to people as if something viral spreading along the perimeters of the park. Yoruichi sighed. She doesn't like the idea of taking this smallest freedom away from the boy, and she can see that every day from the young man's eye.

Yet still, there is nothing she can do to prevent it. The boy was a product of a royal family, and his safety is Yoruichi Shihōin and Kisuke Urahara's only concern.

She glanced back at the car, nodded when Kisuke mouth the word "hurry" and turned away. But Yoruichi slowed her step, expecting the boy to flinch, but he did not. She wondered how long before the boy can embrace the new life waiting back home, about the horror of the real world. No one knew. Nobody can predict. Before, he was just another boy wanting to be loved... and now this.

She stood before him, searching his eyes. Her shadow enclosed his petite figure, and noticed the dark moistened spot staining the pages of the book. He was crying all this time.

"What are you reading?"

"Nothin'."

“We should be getting home soon.”

“Do I have to?”

Yoruichi noted that: it sounded more than complain than a question. “Yes. We have to."

“Can I stay here for a little while?"

Yoruichi glanced at Kisuke again. He shook his head at her.

“I'm sorry but you can't, and you know that," Yoruichi said to the boy. "Your grandfather is waiting at the manor.”

"Am I to be punished again?"

"No."

The boy chided his chin towards the men in a black suit. "Who are they?"

“Don't mind them.”

“Are they the ones with Papa?"

Yoruichi felt her heart broke in two. The boy knew the truth about his father - the death, but still hid it beneath the hood of his eyes.

"No," she said as they boy glanced up at her, waiting for an answer. "These men are different. They are here especially for you."

"Why?"

"Because you are special."

The boy looked at the men again. "They look weird. They're scaring me.”

Yoruichi laughed. “Yes, they look weird, aren't they? Perhaps they intended to do that to scare the bad guys."

"Bad guys scared of you too, but you don't look weird."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

Silence was between them for a while, and when the boy started to speak, Yorouichi couldn't deny she really do hate her job.

"Am I going to be like Papa," the boy said. "I mean... do the things that he does, like talking to different people, and travelling and stuff?"

"Yes." 

"What if I don't want to?"

"Why would you say that?"

"I don't know. I just feel I don't want to."

"Don't you want to be like him?"

"I want to be like him. I just don't like... how they treat Papa. They always get mad if Papa talks to them."

"Do you mean the Elders?"

The boy did not answer.

"Then don't," Yoruichi said. "You can be whatever you want when you grow up."

"Really?"

She eased herself down, leveling with the boy, and then pulled him closer. Smiling she said, “Just promise me, when you grow up, wherever you are, whatever you do, whoever you became, always, always follow your heart. Do you understand that, Byakuya?"

The boy nodded. Then... “You're leaving me too, aren't you?”

She blinked. “No. Of course not.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

And then for the first time, Yoruichi saw the boy smiled at her. Really smiled at her. She held up both her hands and the boy leapt to her lightly. She walked back to the car, carrying the boy in her arms.

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