Chapter 6
"I saw a weirdo a few days ago," the five year old swung his legs back and forth from the park bench.
"It's not very nice to call people names Toushrio," Said the man who sat with him.
"But he was weird," He looked back, "Looked like he was going to a fancy dress party or something."
"What did he look like?" The man leant forward to be on the end of the bench with the white haired boy.
"He was wearing this black kimono thingy and had a sword with him," He told him his eyes hyperactively going from his swinging lags to the man and back again, "No one else seemed to notice though..."
"Shinigami,"
"Huh?" He stopped swinging his legs when he saw the look in the man's hazel eyes.
"He was a shinigami Toushrio." The man repeated for him.
"Shini...shinigami?"
"You need to avoid them," He ruffled he boy's hair.
"Why?" His teal eyes looked up curiously.
"Because shinigami are the enemy."
"The enemy? But they didn't look as bad as the monsters and you never said they were the enemy. You just said they were dangerous."
"The shinigami in a lot of ways, Toushrio, are more dangerous than the monsters and they'll be interested in you if they find you."
"Interested in me." The boy shifted from confusion to worry, "What do you mean? What would they do?"
He was lifted onto the mans lap and he gave the panicking teal eyes a comforting smile.
"Don't worry yourself about it Toushrio," He was pulled closer and held in the mans embrace, "Just promise you'll avoid them for now."
"Okay," He nodded not squirming, "I promise."
"I'll tell you more next time I see you."
Toushrio felt him begin to let go and get up.
"No!" He locked his arms round the mans neck, "Tell me now. Stay here."
"Toushrio," He gave a chuckle at his new necklace before leaning down so he stood on the bench, "You know I can't."
"Then take me with you." He let go and they stood face to face.
"You know I can't do that either." He shook his head and placed and hand over the bandana just below the boys neck, "But you know I'll be back as long as you have it and never take it off."
The boy looked down then followed his hand to eventually stop at his eyes.
"It'll never come off ever." he smiled.
"That's my boy." He ruffled the boys hair and walked away.
"Toushrio." Ichigo called as he saw the boy leaving after school.
Toushiro looked over his shoulder seeing the man coming towards him he ran round the corner. Ichigo sighed. He didn't bother going after him. He'd see him in next weeks lesson and around school anyway.
"So he knows about Shinigami?" Rukia looked over from her desk as Ichigo explained what had happened.
"Yeah but he seemed scared to say it. Like I was going to hurt him for knowing too much." He lazed in the sofa.
"Hmm..."
"Did Urahara say anything?" He asked.
"No," Rukia replied, "He just said that he's not really able to until he meets Toushrio."
Ichigo sighed, "That'll be hard. He's trying to avoid me like the plague."
"Well considering his reatsu he'll be a hollow target so we'll keep an eye out when killing hollows." She shrugged and went back to her work.
"Aren't you going to Orihime's soon?" He pointed out.
"Oh yeah," She stood up, "Need to get changed."
She came out in a white and light blue dress and looked down at Ichigo with her hands on her hips.
"What?" He looked up.
"You said you'd come to the dinner party too."
It was understandable why he was trying to avoid going. Orihime's tastes hadn't changed but she always insisted on these parties. He sighed and got up to get changed.
"Better." Rukia smiled and they left.
