Bleach: Azashiro

 servants ran along the corridors, cleaned up, and I just sat near the lake and looked at all this fuss. As of today, my training had already been completed so I wanted to rest, but apparently it won't work. Today, as I was informed, my grandfather, whom I have never seen in these 5 years, will return.

My grandfather, according to my parents, served in some unit or detachment that reports directly to Council 46. They say at the moment he is the strongest shinigami in the clan. Before he joined this detachment, he was the head of the clan, after which my father took this position. Because of his service, he could rarely visit the clan; apparently they have increased secrecy there, it even became interesting.

By the way, they never told me what kind of detachment or unit it was; my parents always spoke somewhat vaguely on this topic and did not even tell me any details about the name of the detachment. But I had some guesses about this. If we are talking about secrecy, which is so high that even in the clan they could not freely tell the first child of the head of the clan, then this says a lot.

And there are not many options for what kind of detachment it is, this is either a secret operations unit or a kido detachment. As far as I know from the canon, these are the only units that maintained a high level of secrecy. In the kido squad, if my memory serves me correctly, something like masks were worn to hide my identity. But there is no point in mentioning the secret operations unit; the name speaks for itself.

The truth confused me for one point: I was taught that the detachment obeys directly the advice of 46. I cannot say exactly how it was in the canon, but, as far as I remember, the Kido detachment was subordinate to the commander-in-chief and was part of Gotey 13.

I wasn't sure whether I was in the past or in the alternate Bleach universe.

The sound of footsteps approaching me forced me to interrupt my thoughts.

— Young master, you should prepare: Mr. Keigo will arrive soon — The servant said bowing.

— Understandable. Let Mia prepare black haori — Without taking my eyes off the lake I said — Go.

The servant who came to me finally bowed and quickly walked towards the complex of buildings.

— Apparently, and it's time for me to prepare — I said quietly, slowly rising.

The last time I glanced at the peaceful lake, which is not subject to all the fuss that is happening in the clan. I went towards the corridor leading deep into the building, which has been my new home for 5 years.

Approaching the paper door of her room, she opened and Mia runs out of the room, almost knocking me down.

— Ah, young master, I'm sorry, I didn't notice you — Confused, said Mia.

— Nothing. Is everything ready? — Looking at her, I spoke in a calm tone.

— Yes, everything is laid out on your bed — The girl answered me with a bow — Do you need anything else, young master?

— No, you can go — Waving your hand lightly, showing that it is free, I went into the room.

As I approached my bed, I untied my belt and began to change clothes. Having thrown my outerwear off the floor, I began to put on the outfit that had been prepared for me.

As I finished tying my belt on my wide pants, I examined myself in the mirror. I was a slender, thin boy with fair skin, thin facial features and brown eyes. I had long black hair, which, except for two thin strands framing the face, was gathered at the back into a high tail held in place by a gold ornament. I was wearing wide black baggy pants and black kosode with straight embroidered white lines running down from my shoulders on either side of my chest. Haori was worn on top of the kosode, also black with a long sleeve.

Deciding not to tie the haori with another belt, but to leave it free, I approached the paper door.

As I left the room, I thought about where I should go next. To the entrance to the complex or to the dining room.

Deciding to first find my parents, I went out into the yard that was in the center of our clan complex.

— Young master, head and mistress are waiting for you in the dining room — The lady who was supposed to guard my mother told me.

— Okay, send — In a bored voice I answered her.

Going to the dining room, I still couldn't understand why everyone was acting so seriously. It's as if it's not a family member who comes, but a delegation from some clan. I understand that he is the former head and the strongest member of our family, but such excitement seems unnecessary to me. Well, maybe I don't understand or miss something.

And if you think about it, I recently turned 5 years old and my father said that soon I would have to choose a teacher. Then he didn't finish, he was distracted, and I never heard what else he wanted to say. Although it's unlikely that they would bother like that because of me.

And so, walking into the hall and bowing slightly, I saw my parents at a long table. The father sat at the head of the table, and the mother at his left hand. Shinigami, who saw me off, remained at the entrance to the hall. There was no one in the hall except my father and mother.

— Come on in, sit down — With a slight pat to my right, my father told me — You're just in time, my father will be here in a minute.

Sitting down at my father's right hand, I looked at him. I wanted to talk, but he got ahead of me.

— Today is an important day for you — Not letting me start, he said, despite me.

What he meant by this — is unclear, there are only more questions. What could be so important for a child who just turned 5 last week?

— Aki, don't be mad at us for not telling you anything — Leaning forward slightly to look at me, said mom — It was your grandfather's order, he didn't want us to tell you why he would arrive today.

I had no choice but to nod at her words. This means that my grandfather is coming to me today. A little strange, why did he need me? And why hide the purpose of his visit from me — is not clear.

I don't believe that I was revealed and they realized that I had taken the place of their child. And even if they understand who I am, it doesn't change anything. I remember all the moments of my birth, which means I didn't destroy anyone, replace anyone, absorb anyone or anything like that.

Perhaps he came to check on me. Or maybe he finally remembered that he had a grandson and was 5 years old, and decided to give a gift.

And so, while I was sitting, covering my eyes and thinking, a man appeared in the middle of the room. I opened my eyes sharply. Out of surprise, I tried to jump up, but my father's hand fell on my shoulder and held me back.

Since his appearance, I have not looked away from him. And as soon as he looked at me, death seemed to appear before me. I was scared. It's as if I'm being lowered under water in pitch darkness, I've only seen him. With every second that he looked at me, I felt worse, my breathing quickened, and my hands trembled more and more. He pressed me with his gaze, but I tried my best not to succumb to his pressure.

For the first time I felt the effects of spiritual energy. Being under pressure, I tried to somehow weaken him. At one point I felt the energy inside me. At that moment, an uncontrollable wave of reatsu burst out of my body. After my outbreak, the pressure began to gradually weaken.

— Hmm, you were right Deichi — Stopping releasing your reatsu on me, the old man thoughtfully said — Forgive me for this, granddaughter. I'll explain everything to you later.

After his words, the pressure completely disappeared. I started to lose consciousness. The last thing I remember was how tightly the Father clutches his hands into fists and the mother, once behind me, hugs and carefully places my falling body on the floor.