Vermillion Depths (Akira/Aiko)

AKIRA TAIRITSU

The sky above was a clear veil of shadow, only pierced by the starlight that offered such natural beauty onto the small village that Akira called home. It wasn’t too difficult for the Vizard to stumble into his abode after being dropped off, leg bound tightly by a flickering bakudo that kept him from losing too much blood yet would have to be dealt with by a professional. Kaido had done as much as it could from his own expertise.

A hobble followed over to an unignited hearth, white suit absolutely drenched in an iron tinge of blood whilst wounds littered a body beneath a suit which mimicked such only for the duffel bag to create a large thud onto the floor. It was not long until he began to chuckle softly to himself, an odd sensation of….Power? Success? Both? It was alien yet warm. So long had he dreamt of this day, a mere dream, an idle imagination that kept Zathrusta at bay and convinced himself that he had some form of purpose. It was real.

So much blood….

A few flashes followed suit of Zathrusta’s suggestion to slaughter those of the Aoyama family as a message, following through with it only for a glance to shift to the unsheathed zanpakuto whose edge still had yet to dry, natural moisture tinging it a light maroon within the flicker of a recently lit hearth.

."I did it…...”

Was all that left his lips.

AKIRA TAIRITSU

There was a sniffle, a glance to the doorway as he witnessed Aiko with tears filling those eyes of which a brand new dagger slid between the ribcage, directed at the core of his being. Ah….Yes….This was a sensation that had not been found in so long. Guilt. Not for his actions but due to the harm it could cause another so close to them, it wasn’t an attempt to conceal those emotions of hurting Aiko to flash across his features. A soft voice finally broke into the room, head resting lazily against the back of his armchair.

."Two…Hundred…Years Aiko. Each minute living in an anxiety that chokes your very ability to go to a market without threat of your throat being slit by Shinigami. To feel so helpless, drowning in a sea of emotion….Uncertain about yourself, your own ability….Dealing with a monster at your core that seeks an ocean of crimson….”

An exhale followed as his eyes found Aiko’s form.

."What did I do? Took my life into my own hands. That is what -I- did.”

AKIRA TAIRITSU

She deserved that much….

There was little else to do now wasn’t there? This was the payment of achieving such a vile goal, a victory against such a faction. It was the tears of the innocent that often salted the hearts of those responsible, akin to their blood which fuels the fields unto a new age. She wanted to listen to him? Why was she not running away? This made…No sense…

Akira stared at Aiko for a brief moment, trying to understand why she’d even listen to him? He confessed to so much chaos and indirect bloodshed. A semblance of a whimper escaped his lips though, trying to formulate words and granted himself a brief moment to recompose himself. Finally able to speak, yet a part of him did not know if such was wise at all. ."Very well….A long time ago now, I worked for a subsection of Soul Society called the Kido Corp. There was no denying that our governing body, Central 46 was…Bloated with corruption but I sought peaceful change. Every assignment I did for them only made it…Clearer…That some were just impeached or made to vanish for hubris and other reasons that held no true basis. So I spoke up….This….Young boy who thought he was a man, trying to change a broken system from within. ” A soft smile followed, shaking his head as a trembling hand grasped the glass of whiskey that sat to the side.

"Errm…Apologies….One assignment, me and my squad were told to engage with an alleged Hollow threat….The information was manipulated. An Adjucha class was present, and….Slaughtered them all….” Following this a gentle movement of the head tried to get the imagery out of the forefront of his mind. "I managed to kill it, barely but it injected me with poison so I hurried back home- It- Wasn’t poison. A gulp followed suit, glancing at Aiko as an exhausted last hand raised to cover the marred features of soot and blood.

A brief flash of pitch black energy like tar filled the room, outlining itself in a sickly maroon like essence whilst the segmentation of a mask slowly smothered Akira’s face, causing a distortion of the voice that held more of a quiver than before. The eyes in each slit mimicking this tinge of dark crimson and black sclera. "I went back to the orphanage I was raised in but by the time I wrestled back control, afraid…I- So much blood….” He didn’t need to finish his sentence or elaborate on the consequence of that action.

By the time the mask subsided, forcing it to remain just that bit longer as a testament to a newfound strength, Akira’s eyes matched Aiko’s in dripping with anguish. "Vizards Aiko…I never even knew they existed at the ti-time, neither did Central 46 want them to be known and so….A kill order was placed on my end until one day they just…Stopped hunting.

AKIRA TAIRITSU

Akira blinked a little at Aiko, still now trying to keep two centuries of resentment and hatred within his core though was it that anymore? Was this relief? There was little else one could really refer to it as but those racing thoughts were put onto a hold as the heated skin met Aiko’s cooler hand, a brief albeit instinctive reaction to pull away being evident though in the end? He didn’t. It felt…Calming…A sensation he was not used to.

It was only until his mind registered the litany of questions that were brought his way that a softer shake of the head followed, alot of this was still untold and from her perspective? That may be the case. Akira remained in his position before finally being able to speak, tell tales, signs of sadness and gravely tones within the voice that met her ears.

"No. I didn’t deceive you Aiko. A Shinigami of the Stealth Force found me after all this time, even after the fucking reformation and elected to attack me in broad daylight. That is when I realized that….They’d be relentless. Everything here has been built through my peaceful, anxiety ridden life. I couldn’t just attack Soul Society, I had to leave a scar so they’d never return….”

His gaze began to shift a bit over her shoulder, staring out into the heavy droplets that pattered against the window surface.

"China was….Unfortunately a necessity. That country has been ruled by despots and destabilized for so long, it matters -enough- so should the Gotei -ever- return and come after me and mine…They will face much more. I’m done with the killing, it’s over….There is nothing more for me to do but prepare for a fallout. ”