Mommy Said I Shouldn't Talk to Strangers [NDE, R]

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

Thread Title: Mommy Said I Shouldn't Talk to Strangers [NDE, R]
Participants: Nathaniel Tan'O and Aevus
World: Human World
Death Setting: Non Death Enabled
Rating: R
Location: The beach of Japan.
Special Conditions: None
Circumstances: Nathan Tan'O was running from a group of four hollows that chased him along the Japanese shore. Just when they were catching up, a Shinigami came to the rescue.

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

White-face monsters had a bad habit of picking Nathan. Maybe they didn’t like the way his eyes glowed or his skin was really pale, but no white-faces liked him very much. They were all so mean and Nathan didn’t like that. People should be happy. They needed to smile and dance to good music and eat delicious candy. Pixie sticks were the best candy. Nathan still had a few in his Spongebob Squarepants backpack, but he couldn’t grab any and eat them while he was running. Hey, those white-faces didn’t let him eat his candy! Stupidheads…

Nathan had been resting along the beach before the white-faces popped in. It was just sunrise, so the sand was starting to go from soft and cool to soft and warm. It was a nice change, and Nathan just loved the feeling of the grains on as they rubbed between his toes. He wasn’t going to go on the beach with his shoes on, he was going to enjoy it. The sand was so cool, and it could be made into sandcastles and tunnels and sand balls. Almost like snowballs. They both are wet.

That’s the other problem, though. Sand has to be wet to make sand castles out of. The water made it all goopy, like mud, but sand just turns into air if it’s not wet and you throw it. And if its air, then its gone. But Nathan can’t go in the water. He can’t go near the water. Nathan can’t quite swim yet, and Mommy told him to avoid the water. It was dangerous, so he couldn’t go swimming. Maybe when Nathan found his daddy, he can learn to swim and they can all go to the beach as one happy family.

Nathan left home a couple of weeks ago for purpose and one purpose alone: to find his father. Asuka Tan’O, the Sexta Espada mentioned a couple of things about Shinsei. However, Nathan knew nothing about their affiliations. He’s completely ignorant to the factions of the spiritual world, so all he knows is that Asuka’s his cool, candy-loving mommy and Shinsei is his super-hero daddy. The details didn’t matter. All Nathan cared about was finally looking Shinsei if the face and saying “hi.” Maybe he could throw a hug or two in there.

But in his quest to be united with his Father, Nathan met up with some trouble. Those white-faced monsters appeared out of thin air and started chasing him. One of them strongly resembled a gorilla. It was muscular and ran like the monkeys and gorillas from Nathan’s picture books. However, its tail was weird. Instead of looking like Curious George’s tail, it was curly and had a sharp point at the tip. Nathan wasn’t the smartest kid out there, but he could figure out that the scorpion tail wasn’t safe.

Another hollow looked like a snake. It slithered along the sand toward the Failure, leaving squiggly trails behind it. If it wasn’t bullying Nathan, he might have even thought that it was cool and made it his friends. But bullies didn’t like friends, no sir-ee. Nathan could make friends with anybody and everybody, and he wanted to make everyone his friend so they could all be happy and eat pixie sticks together. Too bad bullies aren’t friends.

The third white-face was a mix between three different animals. It had wings, like a bird, so it flew after Nathan rather than run on the sand. However, it had fangs like Dracula. Nathan read a few picture books about Dracula, but they all made him seem like a nice guy that people were mean to. Nathan liked Dracula, but he didn’t like this flying white-face. It’s body was furry and orange, like a fox. It was a foxirdula. Fox, bird, and Dracula. Close enough.

The last hollow seemed to regret landing on the sand rather than the ocean. It had the same white-face, but it was a fish. It couldn’t run on the sand, so all it did was flail around, very slowly making progress toward Nathan. However, Nathan ran away much faster so the fishy white-face had no chance of catching up. Too bad it was a bully. If they were friends, Nathan would have asked it to teach him how to swim in the ocean. That way, he could surprise mommy and daddy and they could be so proud of him. But the white-face wasn’t his friend. He was too busy bullying the child.

The flying white-face was starting to get really close to Nathan, and the rest weren’t too far behind. Nathan was getting really tired and his legs were complaining. He couldn’t keep running for long, and if he stopped, the white-faces could give him a boo boo. Nathan knew that if he were to get a boo boo, he would explode and give everyone nearby boo boos. Ever though Nathan didn’t like bullies, he really didn’t want to hurt the white-faces either. If only they left him alone.

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - [80] Points (40)

Speed - [50] Points

Spiritual Pressure - [20] Points

Reiatsu Strength - [150] Points (225)

Light Aura - [100] Points

Dark Aura - [0] Points

Instinct - [50] Points

Senses - [80] Points (40)

Energy sensory - [0 Points] (0)

Healing Expertise - [0] Points


Total SP: [Insert Number Here] Points

That's all for the template. There are a LOT of stats, but don't get choosy and just give some to all. The result could be quite negative.

Abilities

• [Special Skill: Reiatsu Manipulation] {1}
  
  
• [Memory] {1}
  
  
• [Battle Analysis] {1}
  
  
• [Mental Incantation] {1}
  
  
• [Leadership/Charisma] {1}
  
  

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Dawn had slowly faltered upon the land, seeping forth through the shadows. Each speckle of light, eradicated that temporary darkness, that umbrage cladded night would soon cease to be. And with each spear of sunlight, that covered the land, that veil of shadows would soon be destroyed. Yet the death of dark was always short lived, for darkness like that of light, had its own reign over the hours of the day and also the night.

A yawn had escaped the lips from a pale faced reaper. His eyes were cold, a sapphire hue of icy blue as he would shoot a discerning glare to the coming light. Perched upon a building, like that of a gargoyle the man clad in black had descended upon the world of the living. It had seemed, a night of tracking hollows had been for naught, almost seeming that there was no fish to be caught.

Darkness’s reign over the night was surly fleeting. His cover, his shadows were being stretched thin by that illuminating light. His dark, umbra tinted robes would surly become drenched soon, by the suns warm yet strangling embrace. The hunt had seemed to be over, or had it? His eyes faltered, to a beach. The waters shimmered, reflecting the very suns orangish light.

Someone was running from something, and it is than that he spotted them.His cold eyes could not make them out at the distance he had perched.In order to see, he must step forth into that damned light. Breaking his cover surely but perhaps in doing so, his descent into the world of the living, would not have been for nothing. And so he stepped forth, into that damned light, his pale visage and his dark form, pierced by the spears of night eradicating sunlight.

His movements were swift, fast and true. Falling down a path that would lead him to the beach. Shooting past strangers in alleys, jumping across streets. Diving across those unbearable roads, that sheltered those damned vehicles of steel. His targets were close, the eyes of a predator would soon be drenched in the day. His left hand moved behind his back, to the sheathe that sheltered his blade.

As his eyes met day lit silhouettes, not a smile, but a plain visage painted his facade. The pale skinned reaper, clad in black, showed nothing as his eyes narrowly cast on but prey. He counted, them one by one, their appearances differed but they would die all the same. The weakest always straggled behind, it would have been his target if it wasn’t for the pale child.

But was he alive? Or was he a spirit? The child clearly saw the hollows, for he was running from them. Aevus knew not the anwser as he performed shunpo towards the flying hollow. His blade, stretched forth in a reverse grip, he would attempt to clip a wing removing it from the sky. Rolling upon the beach, his eyes would quickly pass over the other targets that scattered across the beach. He said no words and bore no war cry as he cast his icy glare to his prey, standing before the pale child in the light of day.

Shunpo: 710 - 50 Reiatsu = 660


[/p]

SPOILER: Click to show

Strength - 50 (35)
Speed - 134 (201)
Spiritual Pressure - 71
Reiatsu Strength - 70
Light Aura - 50
Dark Aura - 50
Instinct - 50
Senses - 50
Energy Sensory - 0
Healing Expertise - 0



•[Weapon: Katana] [1]
•[Weapon: Throwing Weapons] [1]
•[Calm Mind] [1]
•[Stealth] [1]
•[Battle Analysis] [1]
•[Strength of Will] [1]
•[Acrobatics] [1]

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

Ghandi once said, “Innocence is a funny thing. It is only noticed when it is lost, and may never be reclaimed. That is what makes it so precious and pure.” Well, no. Ghandi never said any of that, but when you think he does, it makes a much bigger impact. It gives you the motivation and reason to actually look into the meaning of the words, whether they’re mine or Ghandi’s. Nathan is an embodiment of that childish innocence, whether he’s reading a picture book in a park or running away from hungry monsters. Now to rebuild the fourth wall…

Children in general are unreasonable. They act based on impulse and follow their heart much more often than their brain. In Nathan’s case, he only followed his heart. Maybe that’s why he didn’t come off as the brightest kid most of the time. Well, it’s not that he didn’t come off as the brightest kid, he wasn’t. Some may describe him as outright stupid, but, in truth, his huge, warm heart makes up for his lack of intellect, and Nathan’s Aevus is about to witness how big Nathan’s heart truly is.

From the corner of his eye, Nathan saw a black shadow appear. He quickly slowed to a stop, curious as to who the figure was. Usually, that would be a dumb thing to do when you were being chased like Nathan was. However, the Hollows did the same. After all, they were familiar with Shinigami who had thwarted their attempts at turning helpless souls into delicious meals. They all turned their attention to Aevus, determined to defeat the Shinigami threat so they could enjoy munching on the spiritually rich child.

Now, Nathan may be slow, but he wasn’t unbelievably hopeless. It took him sometime, but he could put one and one together to make two. Nathan surveyed the situation while Aevus and the white-faces had a staring contest. The black man had a shiny sword. Swords were cool, but they could be dangerous. He didn’t need to repeat what Mommy told him about things that are dangerous. That sword was bad news, and Nathan didn’t like it when the man pointed it at the white-faces.

Those white-faces may be bullies, but Nathan couldn’t hurt them. That would be mean and it would turn him into a bully too. That’s why the black man shouldn’t hurt them either. The black man was a super hero and he came to the rescue to save Nathan. He was the damsel in distress, whatever that meant. That’s why he couldn’t kill the white-faces and join the dark side like Anakin did. That movie was so sad, and Nathan really wasn’t up for watching the real life version. Killing and hurting was no bueno. Fight was okay, as long as it was just a game and no one got any boo boos.

“Hey, Mister! Please put the pointy… shiny sword away! It’s… dangerous and it could give… someone a boo boo!” Nathan was out of breath from running, so his words were choppy forced, but he got his point across. Nathan didn’t want any fighting. He just wanted them all to be friends so they could go swimming together in the beach. Of course, they’d have to teach Nathan how to swim, but after that they could have a beach party with a rainbow umbrella and sandcastles and a rainbow beach ball. It would be just like in Spongebob.

With that motive, Nathan’s reiatsu surged with him. The black man and the white-faces would feel the energy. But what they couldn’t see was an invisible gas spread out really quickly, engulfing them in just a few seconds. Nathan could feel it, but the rest of the nearby people wouldn’t have a clue. It didn’t smell like anything, either. It was completely invisible to them. In truth, he wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing. He just acted on instinct and trusted himself.

Nathan didn’t quite have full control of his powers yet, so his actions were strongly influenced by his thoughts. He would almost accidentally load an emotion into Aevus and the four hollows. They would all be overwhelmed with a powerful emotion that can’t be described with a simple label. It would be a positive emotion, for Nathan never spreads negativity. However, it was very similar to homesickness. The hollows would be eager to return to Hueco Mundo as soon as possible, and there would be no fight.

Nathan was vaguely aware of what he was doing, but what mattered most was that the white-faces were going away. “Bye bye, white-faces! Have fun at home! Come back some time so we can be friends and you can teach me how to swim at the beach!” There was no trace of fear in Nathan’s face. Instead, he wore a grin almost as bright as his glowing violet eyes. His medium-length white hair was messy, considering that he had just been running for his life. Other than that, the boy was a bundle of joy and happiness.

Aevus would suddenly be compelled to return home, as well. He would miss his quarters in Seireitei, where his twin bed awaits him. He would want to return to his desk and file in a mission report to send to a higher-ranking officer of his squad. He would wish that he could be at the training grounds, working on his swordsmanship and taking another step towards becoming stronger. It would all be so appealing to him. However, his mind was more developed than the simple hollows, and there is no doubt that he would be curious about the child.

“Thank you for your help, Mister, but everything’s fine. I’m gonna go look for my Daddy now. My Daddy’s really strong, and I want to find him and grow up and be just like him!” Nathan spoke whatever was on his mind, not caring to censor his thoughts at all. He spewed words like a machine gun, giving the black man barely enough time to understand him. He hardly paused before continuing, not even giving Aevus enough time to respond. “Hey, Mister, you look really strong too! That’s a cool sword! I don’t have a sword, but I think they’re really awesome. Let’s play a game!”

“If you can touch me, before I get to that house over there,” Nathan said, pointing to a lifeguard station about one hundred meters away, “then you win. But if you can’t catch up, then I win.” Nathan loved playing games, and if the man put up a challenge, the kid was bound to enjoy it. Even if he didn’t, Nathan would still have fun. It didn’t take much to bring a smile to his youthful face.

“But no boo boos, okay? If you give me a boo boo, then that’s cheating and your dis-coalafied!” Nathan needed to make sure that the game wouldn’t be dangerous, just like his Mommy taught him. He understood that just a cut or bump could cause him to explode. He would have to be careful, but, other than that, he was free to have fun. “Those are the rules, Mister! Ready? OnyourmarkgetsetGO!”

And with that, Nathan was off and sprinted toward the lifeguard station, kicking up sand as he went. Aevus wouldn’t even be given time to speak until that moment, for Nathan’s mouth waited for no one or nothing. He could ramble on and on, shooting out words at a rapid-fire rate. The question now was whether Aevus would play the game to learn more about the strange child in front of him. After all, he would need to file a report for his superior officers, so having some details about the child may help. Plus, Nathan put him in a good mood, even though he did so against Aevus’s will. Maybe the Shinigami might be inclined to humor the child.

Reiatsu Remaining: 50/200 (-150 for loading an emotion)

Flood is Active

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus's eyes never faltered from his prey. His eyes, those icy sapphire eyes befell these hollow much akin to a wolfs golden visage. He honestly had only two thoughts as he stared down those white monsters, that had chased down this kid: Kill, and protect. It came to Aevus by instinct, to protect those In need. Perhaps it was one of those things that actually human.

It was than that his eyes would pass over the child. The child, what exactly was he? He sure wasn't a normal human. The pale skin, the glowing violet eyes, they all reminded him of another. But who? It had than hit him, the child he reminded him of that other glowing creature, that man who had kept changing hues. The one, Kimiko had called glow stick. It couldn't be a coincidence could it?

No of course not, there was no denying it. But this kid was different, he certainly was. He seemed to be running away from these hollows. Maybe he wasn't a fighter like the other one, like the so called 'glow stick' It had only been a few days since his meeting with that creature and he still hadn't put any research into it. This was the first time Aevus had remembered it. 'I wonder if this kid, can also use kido?' That question had also crossed his mind with the glowing man, he seemed to be able to use kido.

A skill supposedly only known by Shinigami. Even though he hadn't yet meddled in the craft, he at least found that out. But what someone passes on to another can not always be trusted. Aevus knew that, all to well. Knowledge was good, but when one passes into the unknown the unexplainable can easily start to gain hold over you. It was strange, perhaps these people, like the glowing stick, like this kid, weren't well known to the Shinigami. Or perhaps they were and they had been kept secret.

All of these thoughts would pass over Aevus after this encounter. Now, now he just had those two thoughts. Kill, kill and protect. These hollows, didn't seem that strong. Maybe he could handle them easily. But judging by appearances was a good way to get yourself killed, perhaps even one of these creatures could kill him. Yet to falter but a little was to fall, more than one life was on the line. He had no time to think about dying.

“Hey, Mister! Please put the pointy… shiny sword away! It’s… dangerous and it could give… someone a boo boo!”

The violet eyed boy had spoken up, his breathing heavy and he was clearly out of breath. But what he said, the words that fell through that young mouth of his. He couldn't have been serious, no maybe he just didn't understand what sort of situation he was in. Aevus was no super hero, he really hated putting himself in these kinds of situations. But he had never heard someone spout such stupidity before, this kid was an idiot, clearly ignorant to what was happening.

Aevus was about to speak up, tell this kid that he needed to shut his trap and run. He didn't like children, no he actually detested them. Their innocence bled naivety and a kid this ignorant was bound to die young. A young girl came to mind, those eyes of hers full of fear but also wonder. She knew the world all to well, she saw through the lies and she had goals but she still..

Aevus's sapphire eyes were narrowed on but prey, his blade held firmly in his left hand. He was about to purify these retched creatures and free their souls from torment but suddenly a feeling passed over him. A feeling of homesickness. A longing to return back to his quarters or perhaps even train. It was odd, yet somehow natural. The danger had passed, it had seemed these hollows had decided to leave, like they were returning to their inner dwellings and shadowed lairs.

His blade only loosened from his hand, once the danger had passed. The cold eyes still held though, no mind trick could melt the winter within. No that was a lie, they had melted once before. He remembered the eyes of a bewitching vixen. Her emerald tinted eyes, melted that winter, softening his blues if only for a time. He hadn't forgotten her, though he feels he should have. She, she was a distraction.

“Bye bye, white-faces! Have fun at home! Come back some time so we can be friends and you can teach me how to swim at the beach!”

As he heard these words, he would slowly sheath his blade, his eyes slowly nestling upon the small child. He was very peculiar and it wasn't just how he looked. It was also how he talked, such innocence. That innocence was bound to kill him in the end, at least that is what Aevus thought. The kid began to talk to him, speaking of his father and he would compliment his sword.

“If you can touch me, before I get to that house over there,”

He didn't know how to talk to children, he usually ignored them yet for once he thought he might humor him. He listened carefully to the game, it was simply just tag though. He wanted to ask him a question though, he wanted to know who he was, what he was. ."How about if I win you tell me what you are?" Aevus said it rather nonchalant but he was actually really interested.

"Those are the rules, Mister! Ready? OnyourmarkgetsetGO!"

He was off, Aevus watched for a second or two giving the kid a head start. Was it mean to give the kid hope in winning? He didn't understand the inner workings of a Childs mind, but yet again this 'thing' might not even be a child. He would wait till the last second, when the kids little fingers were about to touch the lifeguard station. And in that second, he would shunpo to him, his hand grasping the child forearm, his fingers literally just an inch away from its goal.

Shunpo: 660 - 50 Reiatsu = 610

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

((OOC: I forgot to do reiatsu costs last turn so I updated that, just letting you know. ))

Each and every person is unique in their own way. Many may have similar powers, similar fighting styles, similar personalities. However, when it really comes down to it. No one is exactly the same as another. Even twins, who are genetically identical, act differently and may not share all the same interests. Individuals have distinct qualities that exist solely in that person. For that reason, there is always potential for conflict. The world was a powder keg that could go off at any moment and unleash war.

Nathan, though he doesn’t know it yet, is capable of stopping such efforts just with his power. The instant that the fog contacted Aevus, the Failure could do so much more than just make him feel a certain emotion. Nathan gained access to Aevus’s mind. Everything that the Shinigami thought was sent to Nathan and saved in his memory forever. He learned of the home in Soul Society that Aevus would think about returning to. Nathan saw the Seireitei training ground, the fellow Shinigami that Aevus worked along side, and even an image of his division’s Captain, Taiho Kasumi’Oji. All this information was retained in his mind, but he barely knew what it meant. Much of the understanding was missing. But the word ‘Shinigami’ did appear, so Nathan had to give into his childish curiosity.

But much more information was flowing into Nathan’s mind. Aevus predicted that Nathan’s innocence was bound to hurt him, but the child didn’t care much for that and ignored it. Innocence sounded like on of those candles that smelled good when it was lit, anyway. How was that going to hurt him? He learned that Aevus typically didn’t like children, but maybe that’s because he only met bully kids that annoyed him and teased him for whatever reason. Luckily for him, Nathan was no bully. He was a ball of sunshine and rainbows, and he was going to make Aevus feel all happy.

“How about if I win you tell me what you are?” The child cocked his head to the side in confusion. Nathan was a ‘who,’ not a ‘what.’ Maybe the man thought he was just too special to be a regular who. Yeah, that was it. Nathan was special, and that was a good thing. But he was still a ‘who.’ “Umm, Mister Aevus, I’ll tell you right now who I am. I’m Nathaniel Tan’O, but you can call me Nathan. Or Nate. Or Natey, cause sometimes people call me Natey. But can you tell me what a Shinigami is?” If Aevus remembered correctly, he wouldn’t recall giving the child his name. It all came with the ability to read his thoughts.

As the child sprinted away, Aevus was still in range of his rapidly spreading release. Therefore, despite the widening gap in distance, Nathan still read the Shinigami’s mind. He knew of the plan to use Shunpo, that really fast running magic that Nathan learned, to grab the boy before he could touch the lifeguard station. Nathan learned from his connection with Aevus that the black man was a lot faster than him, and he’d have no chance in a race. It wasn’t a fair game, really. But Nathan didn’t care; he just wanted to have fun.

And so when Nathan was almost upon the lifeguard tower, he would suddenly dive to the side. It would be timed so that he barrel-rolled into the sand half a second before Aevus used the stepping technique. That way, the Shinigami wouldn’t be able to stop Nathan immediately. However, the game was pretty much over. Nathan ended up lying on his back on the sand as Aevus stood a foot next to him, more than capable of winning right then and there. Even if Nathan saw it coming, he couldn’t do anything to stop it.

Assuming that Aevus did simply tap the child and end the game, Nathan would beam with an excited, slightly fatigued grin that compared to the brightness of his eye. “Wow, Mister Aevus. You’re really fast. You must be really strong too! I want to be strong one day, but I have to eat my vegetables first. Ew. I’d rather have some candy. Mister Aevus, do you have any candy? I LOVE pixie sticks!” Nathan had recently finished his last pixie stick, and he was starting to feel all bad in his stomach without the candy. He really wanted some more.

“Um, Mister Aevus, where do you live? I saw a room and a big field with dummies and weapons with people fighting, but I don’t know where it is? Do you live around here? Do you live on Osaka? I live in Osaka! Mommy has a HUGE house there with a backyard and my own room with all these books! I brought a book with me, look!” Nathan pulled his backpack out from beneath him and pulled out a picture book titled ‘Good Night, Moon.’

“Look, Mister Aevus! See the little boy saying ‘Good Night’ to the moon?” Nathan motioned to the picture on the cover. “He’s wrong, Mister Aevus. The moon isn’t going to sleep; the moon is just waking up! It’s nocturtal, like an owl!” Nathan had recently come up with the idea that the moon was awake at night and asleep during the day. He was compelled to spread the news to make sure everyone was properly educated about the topic. He was so smart to figure that out. Nathan was proud of himself, but his motive for teaching everyone else about his realization was driven by his selflessness.

Now on the topic of books, Nathan asked curiously, “Mister Aevus, what do you do for fun? Sometimes I read books, like Mommy does. I love playing games, too, like we just did. Oh, we should play more games! Do you know any good games, Mister Aevus? Like Monopoly? I love Monopoly, I just buy houses and hotels and let people stay there for free! Then we can all be happy and get two-hundred dollars when we pass go. Monopoly is so great~ What other games do you want to play?”

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus didn’t suspect that the pale boy would reveal his identity to him so easily, but where exactly did he get the idea that he was a shinigami? He clearly didn’t know what a shinigami was because he was asking him personally. It was rather perplexing to Aevus yet he could gather perhaps there was more to the boy than met the eye. As Nathan barrel rolled, Aevus would glance down upon the strange child with that cold visage.

His movements were so precise, it was as if he had known he was gonna shunpo to him. Merely tapping the child with his sandaled foot, he would listen keenly to his words. The child was at it again, rambling on as if he had no care in the world.  Yet Aevus kept that voided gaze on him as he spoke and would simply reply with simple shake of his head. In truth Aevus didn’t feel strong, no he was nothing like what this youth was making him out to be. He had no idea what kinda person he was and how could he? They had just met. It was than that he heard the child speak of something he should not of known about.

“where do you live? I saw a room and a big field with dummies and weapons with people fighting, but I don’t know where it is? Do you live around here?”As Nathan Spoke Aevus’s gaze would widen in mere disbelief. He didn’t know how to take the child’s words in. He was utterly speechless and he couldn’t say or do a thing. In these moments Aevus was completely powerless. He merely feigned that confidence to put those around him at ease and make him seem stronger than he actually was.

The fact that child could cripple him with words alone, was more than enough to prove that point. He would listen to every other word that would be released from the lips of the child as if it was important. He spoke of the moon, and it being nocturnal and how it was much like an owl. He would than speak of games, and it was all to much for Aevus to keep track of. Something about some board game and hotels?

"Nathan." It was the first time Aevus had spoken his name.“A Shinigami is someone who saves and purifies souls.”. Aevus’s hand would slowly falter to his blade as he spoke. “You aren’t human nor are you a regular soul, what exactly are you and how do you know about where I train?.” He was straight to the point with his words and wanted an answer and his eyes would narrow on him. “I’m not playing games, I want an answer a real one.”

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

Nathan knew the words that Aevus would form before he even spoke them. He had access to all of Aevus’s current thoughts and emotions. With Nathan’s flood active, he would know Aevus as well as Aevus would know himself for those few moments. It didn’t give Nathan completely access over the Shinigami’s history and was only limited to the present, but that was more than enough to get inside the Soul Reaper’s shoes and walk around a little.

But Nathan was perplexed by what was currently running through Aevus’s head. The black man was thinking some pretty weird things, something about not being strong. But he was just being silly. Not everyone has a sword. They save those for the strong people, so Aevus had to be one of the strongest people ever. He might even be friends with Nathan’s Dad! What if they’re super heroes together? Or evil nemesi… Nimesisses? Either way, they could be like Batman and Joker. Aevus didn’t seem evil, but maybe they started fighting if one called the other stupid-head or fart-eater or another mean word. Like poop-face.

But then, Aevus’s thoughts did a one-eighty backflip wheelie, completely flipping around as the child finished speaking. Nathan didn’t need his Flood to know that the black man was surprised. And confused. And intrigued. And even a little scared, though traces of fear were mixed in with his disbelief. Yeah, the kid read his mind. And is still reading his mind. He could get under Aevus’s skin if he wanted to, but only if he wanted to. Even in his current weak condition, Nathan had potential to be extremely dangerous. It would be scary if he wasn’t so gentle.

“Nathan.” The child looked up at Aevus, his head titled to the head in innocent curiosity. His violet eyes were shining brightly, like violet suns. If Aevus were to truly look at them, he might almost notice a subtle flame in them dancing and flickering. It was all a result of the all the energy contained in the youth’s tiny body. He was a bomb, and he could go off at any second. Just a scratch would be more than enough to take out Aevus and leave a crater on the Japanese coast. Nathan was aware of this, but his eyes were untroubled and lacked any and all concern, just like those of a normal child.

“A Shinigami is someone who saves and-“ “-and purifies souls, right? Wow, that’s really cool, Mister Aevus. So you are a super hero? Do you know my Daddy?” The child finished the sentence for Aevus. He knew what the man planned to say, anyway, so why not? The Shinigami might be surprised or scared, but Nathan wouldn’t mind any of that. He would only beam freely at the man with a disarming, toothy grin. It wasn’t that Nathan was intentionally trying to get Aevus to let his guard down so he could launch some sneak attack. No, the thought never came into the child’s mind. Nathan wasn’t at all hostile, and he only saw the good in other people and the world as a whole. He left no room for evil or bad intentions.

“You aren’t human nor are you a regular soul, what exactly are you and how do you know about where I train?” Nathan was confused at this point. He learned through the man’s memory that Nathan didn’t have a body called human body. This explained to Nathan’s limited mind why no one could see him. But at the same time, the black man was still talking about how special Nathan was. There was no one else like him and he was one of a kind. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mister Aevus. I just know that I’m special in my own way. You are too, so don’t worry. We’re all special!” Nathan exclaimed with a joyful grin.

Now, to for the second part of Aevus’s question, Nathan had absolutely no clue how he knew about where Aevus trained, but he was going to try to explain it. After all, Aevus wanted to know and Nathan couldn’t just say no. “Um… I just wanted you to stop fighting and for the bullies to go home and… and…” The child was trying to dig through his young vocabulary to find the words to describe what exactly he did. “Oh, and then I got really excited, like I ate a lot of candy or drank coffee when I wasn’t supposed to.” And, of course, Nathan distracted himself with his own words. “Hey, Mister Aevus, do you have some candy to give me? I LOVE pixie sticks. They’re my favorite!”

“I’m not playing games, I want an answer a real one.” Uh oh, he doesn’t want to play? “Aw, please Mister Aevus. Won’t you please play a game with me? Oh! I know! We could play hide and go seek. You hide and I seek and then we can keep asking each other fun questions. Hurry, we’re starting.” The hyper child didn’t wait for any consent from Aevus before turning his back and counting into his covered face, “One… two… three… four…”

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus would stare into the violet eyes of an innocent child. Something within them flickered though. Like that of a distant flame dancing subtly within those irises hiding a mysterious power. Aevus would keep eye contact with the child for that time, like that of a predator keeping his prey ever so close. He was curious of the child but he was also confused by his naivety yet brilliant knowledge of what was going around him. It was perplexing to Aevus to say the least.

To blindly know without actually truly knowing, that was a shed of true innocence. Aevus truly wasn’t the type to play games, that’s was the reason why he sought an answer immediately upon coming into contact with the child. He had humored him yes but it was only because he was seeking out an answer to his question.“A Shinigami is someone who saves and-“ Aevus was interrupted by the violet eyed child who had finished his sentence word for word but he seemed to be asking him if he was right as if he wasn’t so sure himself. He would stare into the child’s violet eyes as he spoke, his icy eyes never leaving him. “Mister Aevus. So you are a super hero? Do you know my Daddy?”

A blink would pass over the mans pale visage, eclipsing him from all light for a time. Before unveiling to reveal that innocent face yet again. “It’s just my job-” Aevus’s words gently fell from his lips. In truth Aevus truly felt nothing like a hero. He was just doing his job. A job that he never would have picked up if it wasn’t for a certain someone. His icy pair would shift away from the child as he reminisced, swimming backwards in that river of time.

---

“See I told you. You can see everything from up here!” Stealthy teal eyes perched themselves to the dying sunset. Its orangish-red light was bleeding off her young form as she stood both hands outward. She was balancing herself neatly atop the edge of the building. Her black kitten, Kiti standing atop her very shoulders.“And this breeze it’s-” Teal eyes closed to the faintest touch of wind flowing through her sandy blonde hair. “it’s truly wonderful!” Blue eyes nestled upon the sunset as the girl spoke reflecting the faintest traces of dying light. The man stood away from her lightly settling his back to a wall, his arms crossed against his chest. He would look to her for awhile. It was odd, he had never seen her this at peace before. It was, well it was just nice.

The girl was a small brightened sun herself, her fingers lengthened out touching the horizon, like spears of sunlight. Her hair lightly flowing from the cool breeze of night settling in on her. While Aevus himself was like that of distant light from a moon. The phases of his facade changing over the course of the days by the light that this little girl had brought. She nurtured his harbored emotions unknowingly settling him with freedom from such trivial things.

“Aevus?-” Her voice fell shallow and she rather quickly dipped her head in reply to her very words. Though what came forth was different than before, a crafted smile flickered across her young face as she would seemingly grin at him. "Couldn’t you just stay here forever?" A lie sewn from nothing, the girl than would return back to what she was actually gonna say. "But than I couldn't become a hero" Her demeanor was innocently naive but within a moments notice she would retreat from the her very words.

"Truthfully, I'm frightened but...I think I can help people.." She would nestle into the warmth of the kittens furs on her shoulder. Drying a single tear and with a lighthearted smile a single memory would appear.She felt her mothers head against her own and of course her lovely soothing tone. Though at times a trial, she had forced herself through every hardship to smile. Her mothers words she had taken to heart, for this teaching she would never ever truly part."I can't be selfish though, Even a fri-frivolous girl like me should beable to change the world, I want to become a shinigami and-"

Aevus cut her off right there. “If you go down this road, you’ll have to learn to kill.” his words were cold but he held truth within them "But I don't wan-" Yet again the girl was interrupted. "Than you'll die" Aevus had said this coldly and rather seriously. The girl felt the softened glare and it tore at her heart to know he was speaking the truth but she was stubborn and would deny the truth. She fell silent, the air now felt bitter and damp, emotions stirred her insides and her heart beat fast as she looked away from him "No" She cast him a teary teal eyed glare. "You're denying it-" Aevus had said rather calmly before being cut off. "No" She repeated in the same hushed tone starting to stagger towards the icy eyed man.

"It's the truth Aura.." His voice hung in the air for a time before completely being removed by what had happened next “No!" The girl would shout exhaling loudly as she took out rusted old knife in what seemed like rage. "Aura please put that away." Aevus was ready for her yet he knew she wouldn’t do anything. Halting immediately with the blade to his icy eyed visage. The little girl would cry out with tears running down her face, her hands trembling on the handle of the knife. "No one will have to die, once-"

"Once you?" Aevus was trying to understand her. "Once I-" She was stopped by the man who had grasped her forearms. "Once you wipe away what it means to be a shinigami and erase the past? Listen to yourself, you're sounding childish" The little girl known as Aura would throw away her arms from the man, allowing the rusted knife to fall to the ground, her eyes trailing to that darkening horizon as it ringed off the floor."Once I burden all the pain..." She would sniffle "Once I bear all of the suffering onto myself.." Aevus’s eyes lit up as the little girl from before looked at him with tears in her eyes yet she was so much different

"I just don't want anyone to suffer anymore....Iv'e seen enough of it and I just want it to stop, i'd bear it all if I could!" She had yelled it with all the emotion she could muster, with all of the strength she had left, her heart pounding and eyes wide open to a dream larger than her. Without warning Aevus would embrace the child, holding her to his chest. He didn’t have much to say, what could he say after such an outburst? “You little fool.” His tone had softened as he held her to him. “No one can bear all of that pain” The girl quivered in his embrace her hands gently falling.

---

Aevus would listen on as the boy answered his question to what seemed the best of his ability. The answers them self seemed genuinely honest and Aevus actually believed him. He didn’t quite understand everything Nathan was telling him but he was guessing Nathan didn’t completly understand it either. Perhaps just like the 'glowing creature’ This boy possessed some power of his own.

“Aw, please Mister Aevus. Won’t you please play a game with me? Oh! I know! We could play hide and go seek. You hide and I seek and then we can keep asking each other fun questions. Hurry, we’re starting.”

Aevus would humor him yet again. He honestly didn’t know why he was going along with him or why he changed his mind from earlier. Maybe some part of this child reminded him of her, that little teal eyed girl from a distant past. “I suppose it couldn't hurt” Aevus would quickly glance around himself eyeing for a potential hiding spot. The counting of the child would ring in his ears as he made his way to a rather large rock. He would seek shelter behind it, making sure to hide his entire body from sight. Once Nathan had found him and he most likely would, he would rise to his sandaled feet. A feigned smile would slowly craft along his face for a time. His newly day lit blues would fall upon the child’s violets as he brought up his earlier question, waiting for the kids glee to cease from finding him “Nathan you mentioned something about your father?”

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

There was a difference between knowing and understanding, and while Nathan had access to all of Aevus’s thoughts and emotions, he couldn’t completely grasp their meaning. “It’s just my job~” There was weight to those words, and Nathan didn’t need his Flood to know that. Aevus’s tone had softened as opposed to the solid, independent voice he had used previously when inquiring about the child. Aevus had shown a new face to the child, and Nathan was dragged back in time with him as he reminisced over the past.

The girl with teal eyes was as vivid in Nathan’s mind as in Aevus’s. Nathan was definitely younger than her, but that was the case with most people anyway. What really stuck out to him was how calm and relaxed she appeared. All of this information, however, Nathan drew from Aevus. He only noticed that she was in peace because Aevus had picked up on it, for Nathan was living his memory at the moment. Nathan only had the ability to reflect on and interpret it.

The sunset setting was truly beautiful. Nathan could almost feel the dusk winds that made the girl’s hair dance in fluid waves. What was her name, again? Aurora, right. She looked like she valued the brief period of time when day transitioned to night and the world was looming between the two states of light and dark. It was such a common event, but rarity and beauty aren’t connected in this case. "Couldn’t you just stay here forever?"

“… but then I couldn’t become a hero.” Nathan was beginning to realize why he was seeing this snippet of Aevus’s life play out in his mind. It had nothing to do with himself and his search for his dad, but rather his question. Nathan and Aurora had both related Shinigami to heroes, but Aevus rejected such notions from both of them. It made Nathan a little sad, for he knew for a fact that the Shinigami were supposed to be the good guys, the heroes. Seeing someone else say the same just ingrained that into his mind. But Aevus didn’t see himself in that light.

However, the flashback wasn’t over. There was more, and this part touched Nathan far more than anything else he’d learned from Aeuvus. “If you go down this road, you’ll have to learn to kill.” "But I don't wan~" "Than you'll die" No, Nathan didn’t buy any of that. It was possible. There was a win-win scenario somewhere in the mess. This flashback gave Nathan access to information on the wars of the world. The slaughtering of Shinigami. The genocide of Quincy. The murder of hollows, or what looked like murder to him. The world was a mess, a chaotic battleground. He felt his innocent, protective bubble that had sheltered him from harm and misfortune bursting, and there was no going back.

"No one will have to die, once~" "Once you wipe away what it means to be a shinigami and erase the past? Listen to yourself, you're sounding childish.” Was that was Aevus believed Nathan to be, childish? The Failure didn’t even know who Aurora was, but he felt in line with her ideals. He wanted the world to be a peaceful place with no death and no pain, but to Aevus, such a dream was childish. By this time, Aevus had been hiding for a good minute or so, but Nathan only stood silently in place. If the Shinigami watched carefully, he would see the child trembling.

"I just don't want anyone to suffer anymore....I've seen enough of it and I just want it to stop, I'd bear it all if I could!" “No one can bear all of that pain.” Nathan shook his head in disagreement as tears began flowing down his cheeks. Just when he didn’t think he could take any more, it ended. Finally. Aevus had given him the memory minutes ago, but he was finally done accepting it.

Nathan slowly walked over to wear Aevus was hiding, for his Flood made a game of hide-and-seek incredibly easy for him. With each step, his body quavered with his silent sobs. The boy kept his head down, making it difficult for Aevus to see the tears in the dark of the night, but it was obvious that all was not well with Nathan. When the child rounded the corner of the rock that Aevus hid behind, he was instead met with a question. “Nathan, you mentioned something about your father?”

The Failure wiped the tears off his face and the mucus from his leaky nose with the sleeve of his jacket. In a teary voice, he responded, “My daddy is Shinsei Tan’O and he’s really strong. He’s one of the good guys, and good guys don’t hurt other people. They aren’t bullies, Mister Aevus. Good guys never hurt or kill anyone, so I want to be a good guy. I want to make sure everyone else is a good guy too.” The tears kept flowing out of Nathan’s eyes. Aevus had indirectly shown him wars, bloodshed, and death, but all Nathan wanted was for everyone to be happy.

“Will you be a good guy with me, Mister Aevus?” He lifted his head slightly so he could meet the Shinigami’s eyes as he made his request. “I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but you… you don’t think I can do it. But I can… I know I can.” Nathan’s voice had a subtle steel resolve, and Aevus would be able to tell just how determined Nathan is to preventing pain. But Nathan wasn’t done, because Aevus still hadn’t answered every question he had. “Mister Aevus… who’s Aurora?”

[Katekarin Mekatoku]

+510 TP to Nathaniel, requested early grading on his part.

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

Aevus watched silently as the child would wipe away his tears with but the sleeve of his shirt. His sapphire gaze still clinging to the childs form as he watched him clean himself. But why exactly was he crying? Aevus truly had no idea. Was it because of his question? No it couldn’t have been because of that it had seemed that this boy had been already crying when he had found him. It was strange and certainly perplexed the pale faced reaper. He would look to him for a time, that cold visage shifted down to the child’s small stature. Ever so slowly feigning that smile that he had formed over the years, hiding his very nature behind it. It was all an act. But a feign to set the child at ease, to appear friendly while still but otherwise appearing rather cold and distant. It was the demeanor of a mysterious man who had cast aside such warm and joyful sentimentality. Allowing his visage to freeze over and bring him to that ceaseless winter that was his being.

“My daddy is Shinsei Tan’O and he’s really strong. He’s one of the good guys, and good guys don’t hurt other people. They aren’t bullies, Mister Aevus. Good guys never hurt or kill anyone, so I want to be a good guy. I want to make sure everyone else is a good guy too.”

‘Shinsei Tan’O’ That name Aevus did not recognize that name at all. His distant nature almost completely determined that he wouldn’t anyways. That and the fact that he stayed away from others on a daily basis. The closest person to a friend, he supposed must have been Kimoko. Though she was in the end just a squad mate and he really never got that close to her anyways. The closest he usually got to someone was within combat. When his blade was clashing with another, when he collided with an enemy in battle. He listened as the child went on about the so called ‘good guys.’ That they don’t kill and that he wanted to make sure everyone didn’t have too. Such a silly sentiment, how could this kid possibly stop others from killing? His innocence was truly bleeding naivety and shone brightly, a foreign light in those blue eyes of his. That distant flame that subtly burned brightly within those irises of his.

“Will you be a good guy with me, Mister Aevus?”

Good guy? What exactly did this kid mean by being a good guy? Maybe it had to do with his earlier comment about being a Shinigami just being his job. But the question, it was as if the blue eyed child was asking him to aid him, to perhaps befriend him or something along those lines. How odd of him to think such a thing, that he’d drop everything to follow around a child. He was already living ones child’s dream he’d most certainly refuse to live out another. He was persistent he’d give him that. It was odd for Aevus to stand here listening to the child babble on about nonsense but it also reminded him of his past and that wasn’t necisary a good thing nor was it completely bad.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt, but you… you don’t think I can do it. But I can… I know I can.”

With these words, Aevus felt something. This kid sounded almost like Aura. Not completely word for word but it was still there, the similarities were unfathomable. Where did that sentence come from? What made this child think these things and them blurt out such words at him. Words that reminded him of another. Words with such confounded weight to them. Fiercer than any blade he had ever felt against his skin. It was impossible, he found himself parted from reality. Maybe it was just a coincidence. Yes it had to be, it had to be didn’t it? Such sweet sorrow, to be reminded of the innocent face of another in the eyes of a child who’s very innocence was dying before him, drowning in that sea.

---

“What hurts you more? the fact that you’re in pain. Or the fact that you can’t remember why you’re in pain?” Aevus had remembered when an old man had asked him that, it was well it was unexpected. The decaying grin of his as he murmured it, unnerved him but what unsettled him more was the context of the words. It was as if the drunken old codger had read him like a book and knew far much more about him than he even knew about himself. That would cause Aevus to literally stare blankly at the man with those hardened sapphire eyes of his, his face riddled with sheer puzzlement. He felt as if he might lash out at the drunken old man for a second, demanding him to mind his own business. He was a lot less calm about things during this time in his life, possessing a rebelled boyish charm to him. but no he wouldn't, he felt compelled to listen to the sad old man, an inch of sympathy fell over him for a while. He’d settle himself on the ground next to the drunken codger, comfortably nuzzling himself against the wooden wall.“ What makes you say that old man?” Stretching forth one of his legs and resting his arm on his knee he’d keenly await the codgers answer. The following was unexpected and he’d find himself listening to the rambling of a drunken stupor.

“I remember when I died-” The old man would cough into his dirt ridden sleeve. ”My life, my life it was over but well here I am. Still alive.” He would move forth his hands in a half hearted merry manner, chuckling faintly before coughing once more into that sleeve of his, but he’d soon return to that somber tone. “I died of old age and at sea.” His eyes trailed off to the disgusting background of that ally. “I thought that was my final chapter I thought I was free from that cursed life but aye immortality has me lost, simply i’m frozen now.” Blinking warily Aevus’s eyes would narrow on the mans. His gray beard bristled against his lips as he spoke, those eyes of his a hazel chestnut and in them he saw a longing. “This place..it has no sea. I wish to return there one day, I long for it-” He would pause before continuing, those hazel eyes seemed tired as he continued to murmur his ramblings. “To return to that sea. Right now it’s all wrong-” He’d sigh.” Ah it doesn’t smell of the ocean it smells of rot, sadness and well....death. This place is simply a decay.” He’d trail off again this time looking to the dusky orange horizon with those droopy darkened eyes of his, he’d soon return to Aevus’s cold blues.

“I saw that little girl and I heard her too.” Aevus would blink, he wasn’t very surprised that he had heard there earlier conversation, the girl was quite bold. ”I heard her, I heard how she spoke to you.” Another sigh escaped him and he’d take a swig of that bottle of his, a trail of alcohol trailing from his lips as he spoke. ”Ah making fun of me sea shanties? oh I reminisce of them dearly. I was never...never a good singer but there is far more to my singing than that.” The old old man seemed to be on a tangent. “Me and my crew, we used to, we used to sing all the time. All the time we used to sing. We used to sail the open blue-....It was, it was an experience.” His eyes fell to the murky ground beneath him, his subtle tone of melancholy, as the whiskey trailed off his breath. “You don’t forget that stuff. The little things...That stays with you and also the hard things. The really...the bad too as well. The mistakes you long to correct. they all follow you on that sea.” You could hear the sadness leaking from him and Aevus easily felt it. He’d peer closer to the man, hanging on to every word like it were important. Even his sighs and the way he mannered himself, the old man had his sympathy.

“That sea we all painfully wallow in. Oh ho up she rises!” He would once again swing that bottle of his. The whiskey faltering back and forth in its glassy prison but he’d rather swiftly return to that melancholy state once again, his hazel eyes clinging onto the boy before him. “See I drink to forget but I also drink to remember. I drink to remember the good times so they can outweigh the bad. But you-” He’d point the whiskey bottle at the man. ”It doesn’t seem like you remember the good. You only reminisce of the bad. But you don’t know why do ye?" Aevus felt a wave crash into him, this olden codger was literally eating away at his mind. It was true, Aevus knew not of his life, he'd had forgotten it. He didn't even know of what happened to him before Soul society, before coming to this district. It was, it was just ....blank. Except for that guilt, that guilt that seemingly meandered over him, veiling him in inner turmoil. "You don’t even know what you’re reminiscing of. You don’t know that memory and that’s tearing you apart slowly." His hazel eyes focused on him as he spoke in a more soft but still gruff tone. "I-I’d help if I could.." He'd trail off at that, perhaps thinking it'd be best to leave alone going on yet another tangent.

"Ah I don’t. I-I don’t afford these meself. The girl actually gives them to me." Aevus would blink at this, gazing at him with a confused puzzled look once again."She steals?" It was quiet for a faint period before the old man would break it with a fit of laughter "ah of course she steals boy! She steals to live, she steals drinks for me, she steals bread for herself and other things as well. she’s actually a kind soul." That softness was back but so was the subtle melancholic sadness. "I can’t steal because I couldn’t get away with it. Her sort. she’s sneaky. she can get away without being seen." His voice fell into his whiskey returning to the murky ground, his voice sunk. "sad really. if she were to pass, no one would be none the wiser, none the wiser of her passing." Everything fell around Aevus that moment. A child living out a life in loneliness, surviving off the scraps of this empty sad world."She wont be forgotten." He sternly set his eyes on the old drunk as he rose to his feet."I'll make sure of that" The old man would grin "Going to play hero aye?" Aevus found himself walking away from that dark place."I'm no hero"

---

SPOILER: Click to show

{Click Me}

“Mister Aevus… who’s Aura?”

“That name..." A gentle needle of fragmented light, seamlessly glistened upon his nightly cloaked form. An echo of silence befell him as he sheltered his gaze upon the child. The child dripped forth words, daggers thusly thrown into his very heart. He was speechless, utterly silent from very name that he had loosely let lose from his very lips. The child was innocently tearing him apart, little by little he felt himself cave in. A crash of emotion drifted upon that sea of his. Where he drowned himself in apathy. Why though, why did he feel something? It damned him, he nearly buckled from the very energy that name brought. Her name, the stealthy teal eyes of a distant past molded with the child blues as he spoke. It was as if he was seeing the life of another in him. It frightened Aevus, dearly so. He felt that fear rush him like that of a powerful enemy driving forth ones blade towards him. Yet no, this was far worse. He could slash back, he could kill that enemy. But no he couldn’t kill this one, he was defenseless before the words of an innocent child.

Those words crept forth, echoing in his very being. He felt as if he may crack under the pressure of that surging emotion that crafted its way around him. He found himself parted from the world. It was only him and the child. Everything else was nothing, no light imitated from that place. In a sanctum of darkness, a place of apathetic emotions, driving him diving into that sea of black. That was where he felt safe. In that inky dark. Cut off from the very world that continued to disappoint him. But now fear latched forth onto him, shredding that dreary emotionless facade into something much more than simple words could describe. He was drowning in it, oh yes he was drowning. Fading deep into that abysmal blackness that was his very mind. It was all black, all except the child. A light, like alabaster snow shimmered illuminated that damp cold place.

Aevus was distraught, his cold visage shimmering from that name: Aura. his tears, his tears they awoke him to that sadness. he didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know what to say. Her name fluttered in his soul. why did he know her? how did he know that name? It was like the wind gone and there a second after. It drifted upon him in that moment and he'd clench the handle of his blade with his bare hands. Firmly grasping it with all his might. He didn’t know why, it was instinct to defend himself. But he could not. As before, these words were not fightable. These words were indestructible and they struck him to the core. The man was falling apart from the seams. His face held that coldness but it was melting before the child.““You fool” Aevus muttered under his breath as he ambulated next to him, his sleeved arm gently brushing the child as he did so. His feet dragging roughly against the cool sand beneath him. He held back the tear that would have glided down his cheek. He held that strength, he held it there for him. He held it there for himself. He couldn’t, he couldn’t hope again, he refused too.

“You little fool...” He repeated to himself in a solemn whisper. The far reaches of the tides crashing into the shore swept him into a quiet place. He didn’t speak for a time nor did he take action, his fingers loosened from his blade and it would fall to the cool sand beneath him. It was subtle but it was full of heart, the gentle needles of light fell upon the two as he stood there silently trying not to cry. He had fallen into the light of hope and had ripped the child away from his very innocence. But Aevus was fightning back against it, it was frightening to hope again but it was leaking from his very essence and with that a single tear would glide down his cheek as a memory of a girl passed him by. She was laying in his arms, her stealthy teal irises glinting in the moonlight."She was a-" His voice faintly cracked as he spoke in but a hushed whisper. There were tears in his eyes, softened and full of sorrow, just like back then."You're my..." Her voice rang in his ear and he couldn't stand it."hero..."

[Katekarin Mekatoku]

Early Grading requested. 500 TP to Aevus

[Nathaniel Tan'O]

Nathan’s silent sobs continued and the tears never stopped flowing from his eyes. He didn’t even need to look at Aevus to communicate, for he had the open ability to read Aevus’s mind. It was like a one-way mental conversation, and Aevus couldn’t possibly sensor his thoughts. The Shinigami was an open book to Nathan, and the responses he received to his questions stirred mixed feelings in him. But, when it came down to it, Nathan and Aevus weren’t so different. They both had their own adgendas and travelled on their own. Nathan gained insight to Aevus’s self-isolation from any potential friendships or relationships. Nathan was in a similar situation, but not by choice. They were both alone when it came down to it. But Nathan didn’t want Aevus to be alone.

However, the flood of emotions he was receiving from the Soul Reaper just kept coming. The black man was full of stubborn doubt. Doubt that Nathan had what it takes to stop people from fighting. Doubt that there were any ‘good guys’ to begin with, and that he could possibly be one of them. Doubt that there was light in the world. But Nathan had no room for doubt, he was far too pure. The doubt felt foreign, and Nathan only felt a calm certainty that as long as he truly put everything he had into it, he could stop the wars. He could stop the dying. Aevus had showed him bloody battles and endless conflict, which only solidified Nathan’s resolve. His father would have to wait, it would be much more important for Nathan to first stop the fighting. I can do it… I can make it stop. People don’t have to die…

And suddenly, the child was exposed to memories of Aevus in a less mentally stable state. Something was clouding his mind, making the vision a little hazy and blurry. However, Nathan could make out the image of an older man and a voice to match him. This memory made it clear that Aevus was in fact in pain. He may have learned to suppress it or much of that pain may have faded away, but it still resided in him. Nathan felt that pain return when Aevus made the connection between the Failure and Aura, and just that glimpse of emotion that the Shinigami revealed was enough to hint how much of a burden the pain was on his heart.

Aura was gone, Nathan realized. His realization would be supported with the rest of the memory, but he should have realized it sooner. She died. Nathan refused to dig deeper into Aevus’s mind on his own to find out the details, for death was too gruesome for the child to bear. No, he didn’t want to go to that dark place. The world as he knew it might as well have already been crumbling. He was learning things that he never wanted to, and a new person was slowly over stand in place of the pure and innocent child who knew nothing of suffering and war.

“That name…” Aura… she was a trigger for Aevus. The man cracked as soon as the name was mentioned. The damn had cracks before, but it was Nathan who placed the last straw. Aevus just couldn’t hold it back, and he was overwhelmed with misery, pain, and anguish, and those emotions were transferred to the child. Nathan couldn’t hold it together either, and the torrent of tears kept flowing. “You fool… you little fool…” Nathan almost thought he made a mistake, but no, this was necessary. This had to happen if he was going to help Aevus. That was his job now, to help everyone. If Aevus was going to be happy, he needed to get all of these emotions out and Nathan was there too bear the weight of them with the Shinigami and do whatever else was necessary. “She was a~ hero…”

He’s crying… the child thought to himself with a hint of curiosity shining through the clouds. We’re both crying… but why? Nathan didn’t understand, it made no sense to him. He might not be the brightest person, but he just didn’t see any purpose of misery. The world had so much potential to be a positive place, there was so much to be happy about, yet Aevus had a dense ball of torment clogging his heart that Nathan had just helped get out. The time to cry was over. The sun had to rise. Nathan felt a strange power surge in him once more, and this one was far more positive than the current mood. He had to dig a little deep to find it, but all Nathan had to do was remember how Aevus was his friend and suddenly the happiness was there for him to grab and spread to the man.

It wasn’t just pure, blatant happiness that the child loaded into Aevus’s mind, for Nathan ensured that the emotion carried far more weight than ordinary joy. He made Aevus feel acceptance as well, a feeling that would help him accept Aura’s fate. The Shinigami would also feel the presence of appreciation. The dark ocean horizon that reflected hints of the moonlight would look just a little bit more beautiful. The sea breeze blowing past him would feel just a bit gentler. And Nathan would look up, tears still running down his cheeks, and smile at the man. It was a big, toothy smile, and Nathan didn’t even have to force it. It came naturally, for he too was appreciative and he too was accepting. But he was only accepting of the past. The majority of Nathan’s comfort came from the knowledge that he would never allow death or pain to occur anywhere in the world, not as long as he was there.

“Mister Aevus…” he asked, an uncertain undertone in his youthful, high-pitched voice. “You are a hero… And I want to be like you when I grow up. I want to go help people like you do. So please smile, just for me.” The child would suddenly jump toward Aevus with his hands extended and wrap his arms around the man in a warm hug. He could only reach the man’s lower back, and Nathan’s face would be buried into Aevu’s stomach. His mouth would be muffled, but if Aevus listened carefully, he might be able to make out the sweet, genuine words, “I love you.”

(( OOC: I know Nathan doesn’t have the reaitsu left to do another load but I figured that for cinematic purposes, it would work if that’s fine with you. Sorry for not checking, I was eager to get to this post after so long. ))

[☾ Aevus | Umbra ☽]

“Mister Aevus…”

The boys words had brought him back but only for a time. He was still sinking that sea apart from that reality around him where the tide shifted before the two. The sound of her name and the very fact that he knew her, struck him to the core. It had caused him of all people to shed but a tear. A tear, a simple thing but it represented all of the mans repressed emotions. All of his saddened resolve and still yet his confused outlook on that little girls ideals. But how easily this boy understood her, it astounded him.

“You are a hero… And I want to be like you when I grow up. I want to go help people like you do. So please smile, just for me.”

He than felt it as if the alabaster light illuminated him casting the man in its blissful warmth. Aevus couldn’t begin to describe the feeling for it was foreign to the dark haired Shinigami. It was as if all those harbored feelings had been tossed aside, carried thusly aloft by the undertow of that sea he had been wallowing in just by the mention of her very name: Aura. He was brought back to reality, the embrace of a child had brought him back, he felt the muffled cries and those three words. Those cold blues of his would widen from the child’s touch, his winter melting as the tears dripped forth down his cheeks.

“I love you.”

It was as if the boys hand had reached into the murky depths of that sea. Of his very subconscious pulling him up from that abysmal blackness, that inky pit of self doubt and guilt ridden ugliness. The tendrils of that sea shifted, letting go of him as he was pulled to the surface. That alabaster light, gently glistening off the child’s very form. It truly was only the boy and him but in those moments it was more meaning to it. He had seen a reflection of Aura in him. As if he was a shining representation of her very being. Of what she represented. It took Aevus a moment to come to that realization, to hear those muffled cries.

Setting himself apart from the child was his first reaction, it was to much for the pale faced reaper. Aevus would act as if none of the child’s actions nor words had affected him. Taking nothing, not even a glance to the boy. Casting himself aside Aevus would make his way to the ceaseless tide. His eyes drifting to that hauntingly beautiful horizon. The speckled light of day slowly rising off against the very sea. It couldn’t be described with mere words.

“This place..it has no sea. I wish to return there one day, I long for it~” The old mans voice returned shortly ringing in his ears. He didn’t understand back than, he couldn’t even remember what the sea truly looked like, nor what it it truly meant to that olden drunken codger. It was an experience only he knew and must have been truly dear to him. At least the memory, the memory of that sea must have been a joyful one even if it was the death of him.

Where that tide carried him was another story, the far reaches of this grand world. To a new land known to the spirits and other spiritually adapt beings. Where people like Aevus, a Soul Reaper served and protected to keep order. The very thing, Aura wanted to be, a hero. Yet Aevus was merely going through the motions. He showed little emotion nor care for the road he followed just trying to enact to follow that dream of a stealthy teal eyed girl.

He knew not of this ‘hero’ that she so hoped to be and that she labeled him in her dying breath. It was all but foreign to the man but he still became a Shinigami for her even if he himself didn’t understand why. The boy came back to his mind as his softened blue gaze drifted upon him. The blade seemingly sung before him in the sand, humming gently for him to pick it up. Well at least in his mind, a serene tune shifted before him as he led his left hand to the handle of the blade.

“Whisper Softly, Umbra.” He would allow these words to gently pass forth from his very lips as if speaking every word carefully. With that his blade shifted into shikai. A wolfish head howled up the handle, runic markings of darkened black covered the silver blade, emanating a silver bioluminescent Reiatsu. Aevus’s dull cold blue eyes would emanate a cyanic glow. His black hair would also faintly change, evoking a dark sapphire undertone. A long silver chain faltered forth from the pommel of his Zanpakuto fluttering freely behind him, a jagged end reminiscent of a wolf’s tooth.

Aevus would near the child placing his hand outward to the boys shoulder. “Thank you.” Aevus would drift upon these words lightly as he would catch the end of a black tail in his hand. It had been the tail of the young kitten that he had just teleported to him. She whined in Aevus’s tight grip, her furs standing on end as she scratched in a flurry of fright and anger. “This is Kiti.” Aevus would say as a smile slowly crept up along his visage, his grip slowly loosening from the kittens tail.

The young black tabby leapt from his grip to the nearest safety, being that of the boys shoulder. “Before you ask I didn’t name her. Aura did, she loved this little rascal.” Aevus would turn his head slightly away from the child, he didn’t quite know what he was doing nor even how to act or what to say for that matter. This was all well, it was new to him. “You’ll be looking after her from now on err.” He would scratch his nose as he eyed the young kitten.

“Oddly enough this one can actually drink milk, she throughly enjoys sleeping all day yet oddly enough she isn’t much of a hunter for such a night owl and she sure is stubborn.” The young tabby would mew towards Aevus before lightly purring as he meandered across the boys shoulders, rubbing up against the back of the child’s head. “She was Aura’s only friend until she met me and has been my only friend up until I met you.”

Shikai - 200

Libatis umbraculum - 500 (teleporting his cat from Soul Society to the human world)


Reiatsu Remaining - 2680/3380