I'm Not Giving In, I'm Letting Go

The Devil Weeps
Loran Kagekyo had been watching the front door for what seems like an hour and a half, waiting for her son, Hayashi to come home from his training. Of course, if it were anything like last time, it could take a few days. But the door did open, and a strange man wearing all black walked in. He carried a strange Zanpakto that she had never seen before.

"Hello, I'm Kentaro Shinozaki. Mind if I...Loran is that you?" he asked suddenly.

"Heya Tardo. Long time no see." Loran replied, using the insult that flew around the Academy in their time. "And before you ask, no Reikon Kyuuban have been near me in quite some time. No full-blooded Demons either."

Kentaro laughed. "How did you know that's why I'm here? And please, stop calling me Tardo. I'm a Captian now, so show some respect, even though you are no longer one of us."

Now Loran laughed. "I knew it because Bael just killed my boyfriend, whose sister is a RK. Why else would you come here now? To ask me out or something like that, Captian of 6th Division."

"First off, that means you just lied to me, and secondly, if you lie again, I'm authorized to bring you in for questioning, got it? And if you have a boyfriend, what right do I have to step in?"

Loran quietly replied. "Shade is dead, as always. Not like I've got anything against someone around my age loving me now that he's gone. I've always known you loved me from affar. Always did. But I can't love you back. I doubt my son would like it very much. Truth be told, I'd rather have you than have Shade. At least you wouldn't leave me all the time. You could leave your post, or I could bring Hayashi with me, and we can live together. forever."

Kentaro's mind was reeling. "I'd rather you ask your son what he wants. If he would be fine with leaving his friends behind to join you in this path, I'll allow both of you to come, but if he denies it, I will honor his wish. A strange Shinigami comes in and steals the heart of your mother. Can you imagine the irony in such a thing?"

"To a half-demon with a bad track record with male role models, I'd think he'd love the thought of finally having a father. But before I get carried away, have you talked to Shiro Kujo recently? I miss him a bit."

"Yeah. He keeps looking for information on a guy named 'Ice Mutt'. Any ideas?" Kentaro smiled a moment.