The Footsteps of Fate

Kentaro stared at the blank, white walls of the 4th Division's many private medical rooms. Boredom was setting in, and he was actually considering tearing out his hair just to give himself something to do to pass the hours. His wounds were dressed in bandages - meaning roughly half his body was covered - and his arms pulsed with agony.

Severing his emotions to avoid the pain, Kentaro ran the events over in his mind. They were as clear as the see-through jug of water that sat on his bedside table. His battle with the Adjuchas, his conversations in the camp and then the final battle were he'd fought until he could fight no more. Every mistake he made flashed, and the intensity of his emotions shattered the void he'd swam in a minute ago and the pain of his multiple wounds became that much more pronounced as every one renewed simultaneously.

"Harumi..." She had been hurt because he had not been strong enough to protect her fully. The amount of times she'd been put in danger, the level of her exhaustion because he couldn't shoulder her burden of healing, and the fact he had failed to do what he had promised drove him to his feet. He didn't care where, but anywhere was better than here. "Time to leave..."

He found a fresh pair of clothes folded on his bedside table beside the water jug and he donned them quietly and as quickly as he could, fearing someone may come through the door at any second. They were the average Shinigami Shihakushō with a white shitagi, a black kosode, a black hakama, a white hakama-himo, white tabi, and average waraji. They had been made to fit him by his mother and hugged to his body tightly.

Opening wide the window and breathing in the fresh air of morning, Kentaro leapt out and took his first steps as a free man... until a hand tapped his shoulder and sent him jumping a good ten feet in the air in surprise! "And where do you think your going, son?" Kenji asked with a fool grin. "Good to see you've got the clothes I left for you, but I don't see why you need them, saying as how the woman who treated you said you'd need a few days bed rest... at least." He didn't stop smiling though.

"Father..." Kentaro began, but soon found that the words he wanted to say wouldn't come. "I'm leaving the Soul Society to find my own path, my own destiny. You won't talk me out of it, either." He could say it no problem in his head, but his mouth just wouldn't work. Instead, it all came out in a jumbled rush that made no sense and made his father double over and laugh.

Wiping a tear of joy from his eye, Kenji stepped forward and pulled his son into a tight hug. "I won't stop you," He said with his all-knowing tone, "but I'd leave now and spare your mother the news." He released his son and grinned. "Don't look all dumbfounded, you moron. You'll hate me saying this, but I was the same. I couldn't wait to be rid of this place," He was right; Kentaro did hate the comparison, "so go." Kenji stepped aside and grinned. "I'll be here, so send word if there's anything I can help with. Just because I've got a war to fight, doesn't mean I won't drop it like a bad habit and help you out."

With that, he turned and walked away; leaving Kentaro confused and dumbfounded. "... Did that just happen? Did he just say I could go?"

"Don't be an idiot," Kusaka replied from behind. "He said you could go, but he didn't say you'd be leaving alone. Come out you three."

Harumi Kazuki with no bandages and a school-themed uniform worn walked out from behind Kusaka and smiled warmly. "I'm going to, and don't try to tell me otherwise!" She planted fists on hips and Kentaro flinched from her whip-like gaze.

The second was Riki Nagakura, younger brother of the 7th Division Captain Shin Nagakura. He wore the average Shinigami Shihakushō with the same colors as Kentaro and wore his blond hair slightly spiked at the top. "My bro says that it will be good experience," He said, sounding excited.

The third was Jinta Kanō, Riki's best friend and a prodigy among the Shinō Academy. He wore an open-chested vest with no sleeves with a black and orange coloration, with baggy white trousers and average waraji. "Good to see you again, Kentaro. Looks like we're going with you, buddy."

Where they all stupid, or just downright idiotic? "... This won't be a walk in the park. If my father and Kusaka are to believed," That earned him a clip round the ear from Kusaka who whistled as though he done nothing, "then the Human World is a dangerous place if you aren't prepared."

"All the more reason that we should come," Riki interjected, raising a finger. "You might as well accept it, Kentaro. We're going with you, buddy." Jinta continued with a smile. "Not even old Tadashi could keep up here." He did laugh nervously though when Kusaka's eye began twitching.

"... Anyway, I'm outta here." Kusaka vanished, kicking Jinta up the ass before departing. "That's for slagging my Uncle... the guy is old, but only I get to say that and get away with it." The four companions looked at one-another and laughed before following Kentaro to the closest Senkaimon gate.

With the wind aiding their steps, the four noticed Kenji standing beside the Kidō Corps members who operated the gateways. "Send them though to the Human World and give 'em a few of them hell butterflies. The Dangai is one place even I won't send them." As the gate opened, Kenji knelt before each, purposefully keeping Kentaro to the end and whispering something to each which earned a smile and nod of the head.

Finally, he came to Kentaro and the youngster felt his stomach tighten in knots. "Father... why? Why'd you have to make this so difficult?" He was struggling to fight back the tears. "Son," Kenji whispered, hands on his boys shoulders. "I'm trusting these three to you, because your the strongest by a fair margin. But listen and heed this warning; If you meet a group called the Imawashī, then you run and don't stop. Do you understand?" Only when Kentaro nodded did Kenji pull him into a bone-crunching embrace. "I love you, Kentaro. And so does your mother. Heh, look at me. Go on, before I get all misty-eyed." he waved them through the Senkaimon and heaved a sigh when Kentaro finally stepped through.

"Are we doing the right thing, Kenji?" Yoshiro asked, flashing to his friends side. "They're only kids, and if they do come across the Imawashī, then there as good as dead anyway. You know what Dastan said about them." Worry filled his voice, and his posture showed it. Yoshiro didn't often fidget.

"... We have no choice, do we? If we didn't do it this way, then all four would have left on their own eventually whatever way you look at it. All of them are just like Kusaka, Kazuma and myself. They yearn for adventure, and now... they'll get there fair share." Worry was evident in Kenji's own tone, but he was confident in his son. He would return.

"... If you say so, Kenji... I've trusted to your judgment up till now, so I'll trust you on this too. I just hope that trust doesn't cost us our children." The words cut Kenji deeply, but they were needed to be said and he'd forgiven his friend as soon as they were spoken. He too hoped he was right...

Next Arc > The Hidden Shadows Arc