The Secret is Out [Closed Social]

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru Kuchiki showed up back in Tokyo. She has been wrestling with how to tell him one big thing that she had been hiding from him. She thought that it was for his own good, but she knew it was more her being selfish than anything else. The spiritual gates dropped her off on the streets of Tokyo this time, instead of on the rooftops. She had thought ahead and wore a Gigai before walking into the gates, so this time around, people could actually see her walk around. She was just grateful that her exact looks carried over to her Gigai.

But, while walking along the streets of Tokyo, she also had questions for him as well. There were things about him that she didn't know and felt like she needed to know. There was also something that he needed to know as well. She didn't remember much about that fateful night, just that after she got together with Asmoskon, she felt bad about it. She didn't know how he would react, especially since they've been going together for a little bit. She didn't think it was such a big deal, since it was before they got together, but she didn't know how he might take it.

She walked back to the park. The park, where they shared their first kiss. The park, where everything happened. She was stronger now, so she hoped that he would find her there. She walked over to the lake and just looked down into it. She was so deep in thought. Thinking about how to ask the questions she wanted and tell him the one thing that he would hate. She just kept taking deep breaths, trying to think through everything. She was so thoughtful, she was ignoring the people passing around her, to the point where she wouldn't have heard someone come up behind her.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

It seemed like just another meetings that would go on like the many prior between him and Hotaru. At this point Asmoskon had become attached to his significant other even if it was unintentionally. Asmoskon had always feared growing attached to another individual since his family’s death yet it seemed he was meant to be with Hotaru. She shared so much of his own beliefs and even his determination for victory. Everything about her just seemed to match himself and only brought him a warmth to the abyss of suffering that he had been forced to live through in the past few years.

Asmoskon had received a call from Hotaru that she wanted to meet with him at the park that they met at and normally met for reunions. He had left around a half an hour ago and was riding on the back of his motorcycle through the streets of Tokyo. He was wondering why Hotaru had called him at such a strange time due to the fact it was only a few hours before the time she wished to meet. Normally they would plan it out a few days prior or just happen upon each other and spend an enjoyable time together. It took a few more minutes for he to reach the park and begin his way to the location he knew she would be at in the park.

Asmoskon could see Hotaru in the distance by the lake however noticed something different. She was wearing a gigi which meant that all the living individuals in the park were able to see Hotaru as well. Asmoskon wasn’t entirely sure why Hotaru was wearing such a thing however couldn’t help, but feel excitement at the idea that she might have gotten some time off from her duties and spend some time with him in the human world. Asmoskon snuck up on Hotaru steadily only to grab her from behind around her waist while holding her closing. “Hey there beautiful.” Asmoskon simply whispered in Hotaru’s right ear with a smile as he felt the shinigami’s warmth on his chest.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru felt someone grab her from behind, which snapped her out of her thoughts. Her first reaction was to hit them, but she immediately felt the reiatsu and knew without a doubt who it was. Asmoskon. She relaxed immediately and leaned back into his embrace. It always felt good when he held her, especially like this. When he whispered hey there beautiful in her ear, she couldn't help but smile.

She turned around in his arms and smiled, looking into his face. "Hey there yourself handsome. I figured a Gigai would make it easier to talk in public, so people didn't think you had gone crazy." She laughed at the last part. She definitely didn't want Asmoskon to act awkward, but she was afraid of his reaction to certain things. She tried to keep her face blank, but there could be a chance that he saw the trouble in her face.

"I know that this is out of the blue, but there are some things that I wanted to ask and tell you. First the question. I'm just curious as to why you always seem to be by yourself. You also don't talk about your family much. You don't have to tell me, but I want to help if I can. I'll let you answer that before I tell you the thing I came to tell you." She stared into his eyes, waiting for him to answer.

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

The feeling of Hotaru leaning backwards and accepting his embrace was one that Asmoskon would never be able to outgrow and would become dull for the Quincy. Asmoskon smiled as she playfully returned his comment to her back onto him with her own smile. Asmoskon could see that she was smiling, but as she spoke it was obvious that her mind as troubled by something possibility big. Asmoskon had never known Hotaru to let something trouble her though especially when she was around him. Normally whatever duty was on her mind from her duties as a Shinigami were waved away by his influence and the joy they shared with one another.

Asmoskon had grinned at Hotaru’s explanation as to why she was wearing a gigi. In truth he had forgotten all the times that he must have appeared to been laying in the grass talking to himself to all those around him. Before Asmoskon could get the chance to ask Hotaru what was wrong however she seemed to jump into a question that was in fact important to Asmoskon due to it actually forming him into who he is as a person. Hotaru it seemed wondered why he was always by himself and why he never spoke of his family. Asmoskon let out a sigh as he thought over everything and realized perhaps it had been longer than he planned for him to tell her about his past.

Walking away from Hotaru a few steps Asmoskon bent downward and picked up a small stone at the edge of the lack. Twirling the stone between the fingers of his right hand he gathered his courage as he recalled everything about his family. “Hotaru there is no easy way for me to say this, but the truth is I have no family. I’m alone in this world because the Vanreich Empire killed my grandfather and parents when I was young. I’ve had to live off of myself for the last few years. It one of the biggest reasons why I’ll never stop until the Vanreich are shown the error of their ways.” Asmoskon squeezed the stone and then threw it across the water of the lake watching it skip a few times then falling into the shallow depths.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Once Hotaru asked about his family, he let go and walked towards the edge of the lake and picked up a stone. He then said that he had no family. They were killed because the Vandenreich Empire killed his parents and grandfather. He had to live by himself for the past few years, doing everything himself. He said that it was one of the biggest reasons that he wanted to show the Empire the error of its ways. She figured that it was the main reason.

Hotaru looked at Asmoskon and walked over to him. He skipped the stone and she grabbed him from behind and held him the same way he just did. She gave him a big hug, holding him tight. While she did that, she started to tear up a little. Once she backed away from him, one tear came down her face. She looked at her feet. She had no idea that this had happened to him. It made her feel all the worse.

"I am so sorry that that happened to you Asmoskon. Before I get this off my chest, I want you to know that I will always love you. But, now I have to tell you something that I haven't said yet that I should've. Before we became an official couple, Asmoskon, I was with another man intimately. His name is Vannan, another Quincy. But, that's not the worst of it. He's a part of the Vandenreich. I never knew that the Empire had such an impact on you. I am at your mercy, do your worst. I'm pretty sure that I deserve it."

[✠Asmoskon Masurao✠]

The sound of the stone skipping across the water was such a reminder of all the times he had fallen in the last few years and managed to pick himself up. However, the stone dropping to the bottom of the water was something bordering on a sign of a god for in the next minute that was the actual result to this comparison. Asmoskon felt Hotaru’s embrace and could only manage a light hearted smile that barely held a sense of warmth due to the memories of his parent’s mutilated bodies and his father’s dying words while Asmoskon held him and watched everything be taken away. He fought through the pain though finally he had found someone that he could be himself with and never has to pretend like everything was fine simply because things could be good once again.

After a few moments Asmoskon felt Hotaru back away from him in a pattern that wasn’t her actual pattern of movement. The Quincy had paid attention to everything about Hotaru since he met her and one thing he knew was her breathing, walking and speaking patterns nearly all of which were off by something. Her reiatsu though was the same so Asmoskon didn’t believe this to be any type of hollow trick or any other type of façade it was the real her so what was wrong. She began to speak about how she was sorry for what Asmoskon had lost and that she never knew anything like that had happened to him yet Asmoskon knew Hotaru would feel that way it was the main reason why he hadn’t told her without her asking until now.

That was the moment though that all of the logical and calm thinking abandoned the Quincy’s mind though. Hotaru spoke about her being with another man intimately another Quincy . . a Vanreich. It seemed as if everything was falling down around him all the light that graced the park was lost from his vision by the engulfing darkness of thoughts and understanding. Although Asmoskon’s mind had only heard and focused on the worst never even taking in the actual wording of “before” and in that instant it was as if an arrow had truly pierced through his heart, mind and soul all over again. The bright sky the green grass the blue waters everything was gone it was as if he was in an abyss with nothing around him but the screams of someone in the distance that only grew louder. Standing there within the abyss Asmoskon attempted to focus on the screaming believing it to be his father only to realize the voice was his own and that he had fallen farther than ever before.

The moments that Hotaru spoke of Asmoskon’s forgiveness and whatever wrath he might plan for her were the only things he heard as the Quincy emerged from the abyss that had claimed his caring nature and warm soul replacing it with coldness and rage. It seemed as if the young boy had in fact shifted into an entirely different individual in only a moment yet how long had he been in the abyss listening to his own screams of pain no one knew not even himself. Turning around Asmoskon looked to Hotaru seeing the tear fall to the grass and only stared with scorn and hate. “You who I had put my soul upon never even cared enough to catch. You’re not the person I believed you too be. No honorable or faithful samurai only loyal to power and selfishness like the others. You who have tainted yourself bring nothing, but dishonor to me for the sake of the Emperor."

Asmoskon lifted his right hand and whispered a few words that must have been an incantation because in the next moment a silver dagger manifested within the grasp of his palm. Holding the blade in a downward grip typical for stabbing Asmoskon actually drug the blade into the flesh of his chest through his clothing. The boy never shred a tear even flinched from the pain only staring into the eyes of the female he now saw had played him for a fool for the benefit of whoever she truly served. After three seconds blood flows from Asmoskon’s chest a wound that stretched from his left shoulder to the right thigh. “This wound will forever be the scar that represents my foolishness in the belief of loyalty that you have inflicted upon my soul.”

Asmoskon began to walk off the dagger disappearing into nothingness. After a few moments he stopped and pulled something from his pocket then cast it backwards where it would land at Hotaru’s feet. “You don’t deserve such a thing however I no longer have any type of use for a symbol of lies.” As the last word left his lips Asmoskon vanished from sight utilizing his stepping technique to move away and get to his motorcycle and move on from what he had called home and a life. He no longer cared for everything that had made him who he was especially the wedding ring of his parents that he had thrown at the feet of a witch. He wasn’t the same as he had been only a few minutes ago something was different his pureness was tainted and at the bottom of a lake filled by rage and wrath.

[Hotaru Kuchiki-Masurao]

Hotaru watched Asmoskon when she said the words. She watched on his face everything that he was get destroyed. It made her hurt inside like no other hurt before. She saw the good in him die and only hate and revenge remain. She had utterly destroyed this man, the only man that she has truly loved, and it broke her deep inside. Broke her to the point that she might not be able to recover.

She heard what he said, that he believed that she dishonored him for the good of the Emperor, that everything between them was a lie. It broke her to the core. She wanted to say something, but knew that the way he was now, he wouldn't hear her or turn it back on her some way. He then grabbed a dagger and cut himself from left shoulder to right thigh, making it the scar that represents his foolishness in the belief of loyalty that she inflicted on his soul.

He walked off, saying she doesn't deserve such a thing but he no longer has any use for a symbol of lies. He threw something at her feet then disappeared. His bike was gone too. She knew that he was in a bad place now and she needed to get him out. She grabbed at what he threw and once she saw it, she knew what it was. It was the same kind of ring that she saw on the humans. She was broken now, but this one symbol he threw at her was it. She held tears and walked into the park. When she was hidden enough, she took the gates back to Soul Society. She then went back to her room, put her Gigai up and went to the closest bar. There, she drank her pain away and cried into the cup all night, until she was walked back to her room.