Chapter Text
Ichigo stares at the boys before him. Boys who suddenly appear out of nothing in the middle of the night. They both have pale skin. Very pale. Almost scaring Ichigo if not for they somehow feel Safe. But that's all they had in common.
The older one, like kids from E-le-men-ta-ry old, has black hair wild hair, like Mama's hair in the morning before Mama brush it, and eyes that can't decide whether to be blue or green or gray. Ichigo doesn't understand why he wears a black dress. The dress is so weird. Its collar reminded Ichigo of the hem of his pants after that bad dog bit him, and the dress ended up on the knee. At least he also wore pants.
The younger one looks like him, except he is not Ichigo. Ichigo's mouth is not that wide and his eyes are bigger. And the younger boy has white hair, golden eyes (with the white completely black), and wear white old clothes, like from pe-ri-od dra-ma that Mama sometimes watches. Except its for kids and the color is gray-white with black belt-like thingie.
"Who're you?" He finally asks.
“You can’t know.” Said the Older one.
“Can’t?”
“Can’t.” He nodded. “You’re too young. Not ready.”
“Grow up and get strong, Prince.” The Younger one, Ichigo’s weird twin of some sort said (and wasn’t that a shock? He had baby sisters, Twins, and now he found he sorta has his own twin?). "Maybe then you're worth knowing my name."
Ichigo frowned. "What does that mean?"
“You will know when you’re older.”
He pouted. That wasn't fair. Mama and Dad always said that and won't tell anymore. Why no one ever tells him anything? How he's supposed to learn, to protect, to live up his name if there's no one to tell him?
Suddenly the boys sit up straight like. Their eyes darting around before focused at something at the outside window. The Older one narrowed his eyes while the Younger one outright growling. It reminds Ichigo of a wild animal in do-cu-men-ta-ris he watched with mama.
“Prince, lay down.”
“What? Why—“
“No time. Lay down.” The White boy pushed Ichigo down and throw a cover over his head.
“Wa-wait—“
“No time, Ichigo,” murmured the Black boy. “We will come later, but for now... try to catch sleep.”
“And don’t mention it to anyone, Prince. Pinky Promise on it!”
With that, both boys vanished into thin air. Leaving Ichigo befuddled and more than a little confused. Ichigo doesn't understand why they suddenly disappeared, or that he has to pretend to be asleep. It was not like anyone's watching, right?
...right?
...
...
...
...
...
Oh God. Someone's watching him! Ichigo suddenly feels scared and unsafe. He jumped out of bed and quickly run to his parents' bedroom. Banging the door and ask if he can sleep with them.
Dad can say whatever he wants, but Ichigo doesn't feel safe sleeping alone tonight. Not with bad men were watching him.
Ichigo dreamt of a dark place and big, scary glowing eyes watching him and giant claws were about to crush him. He wakes up screaming, startling his parents. Dad looks annoyed and Mama looks scared. She checks up on the twins, who were wailing, shocked, and scared by Ichigo's sudden screams.
...at least Ichigo didn’t wet the bed. That was a plus.
~X~
"Thanks, Prince, for not talking."
Ichigo nearly screamed as he fell backward, head hitting the floor first. "D-don't suddenly appear!" He half-shouted at the boys. Particularly, to the white one who appears right in front of his face.
The white one was just grinning, like Dad after he somehow stole freshly baked cake and made mama mad. The black one just sighed and slapped him upside the head, which got White to look angrily at Black.
Ugh.
“Can’t you tell me your name now?” He had turned seven yesterday. Seven! One year older. “And what do you want?!”
It was night. Ichigo's bedtime. Just like back then. Ichigo once thinks it all was a strange dream, except he has a hunch it was not. And it turns out it was not a dream. He wants to know. He needs to know. Hopefully, they would tell him—
"Sorry, Prince. Can't do."
“You’re seven. Happy Birthday and Congratulations. But you’re still too young.”
Or not. Figures.
“But you know my name and I don’t know yours. What should I call you?”
"Why don't you give us a name?" Grinned White. “You know, like those cool Codename from that movie!”
Ichigo can't get angry. That... sounds cool. And he has his own code name, too. Prince. Why, he doesn't know, but it sounded cool. "Alright..." He agrees. Quietly, he observes them. Black and white. Silent and loud. Soft and crass. They somehow feel similar but not exactly the same. It... it’s interesting. Their name has to connect somehow. But what should it be? Ichigo has no doubt the White one gonna complains if his "codename" is bland and—
Huh. He got an idea.
“Shiro and Yoru.” He said, pointing at White then Black. “Short for Tsukishiro (White Moon) and Kokuyo (Black Night).”
“Hmm...” The black one, Yoru, hummed. “Kokuyo... Yoru... it’s good.” He finished with a thin smile. Ichigo almost missed it. “I accept it. Thank you.”
“Meh. At least it got good roots.” The white one, Shiro, sticking out his tongue. Ichigo was startled his tongue is blue. Not blue-because-you-suck-colored-candy blue, but blue-as-in-his-tongue-always-been-blue. Then again, Shiro's eyes aren't exactly normal so the blue tongue isn't really that weird.
Okay. Enough for that. “So we all have names now... and you two can’t tell me your real names but know mine... and it's your fault I feel like someone's been watching me! Do you have any idea how freaky it is?! Mama and Dad are saying I'm overthinking it, nightmare! Tatsuki has been real meanie and the others aren't helping and—"
“You were watched, Ichigo.”
Ichigo paused mid-rant. Staring at Yoru with eyes wide in terror.
“You were watched. By a man whom we dislike. Shiro more than myself. We want you to be as far as possible from him but it’s impossible. He already knows you exist since you were still in a diaper. It was just recently he started to... for lack of better word... stalk you."
Ichigo shivered and looking around. “H-he... he isn’t watching me right now, right...?”
“Do you think we got out when that bas—bug was around?” Sneered Shiro. "Oh, ye of little faith..."
Ha? What does the last line mean? At least he wasn’t watched anymore. Ichigo let out a relieved sigh, then fidgeted. “Why?”
“Why what? Be clear, Prince!”
"Why you won't come out when he's around? Why... you only appear now?”
“Because only you can see us.” Was Yoru’s answer. "He can't see us. Your parents can see us. No one can see us but you. If That Man saw you were talking to empty air, he might figure out you were not normal, and it will end up badly for you."
What... does that mean? It answers one question, and raise more!
"So... you will only appear when I'm alone and no one watching." Nod. "I can't tell Mama and Dad about you two?"
“Your mother, maybe. Your father... hell no. No no no no and No.”
"Indeed. Masaki-san can be trusted. Isshin, however, has ulterior motives and in any event, he does not, he will tell someone who certainly has.”
Ichigo frowned. That doesn't sound nice. He can tell Mama but can't tell dad? But Mama said he has to be honest. A good boy is honest. But Ichigo wasn't being honest with them. Does that mean he is a bad boy? But Dad would tell not-so-good friends so that must be a bad thing too. Uuuuuu...!!! Is that why no one tells him anything?
“Don’t beat yourself, Prince.” Suddenly Shiro was next to him, arm slung across Ichigo’s shoulder. "It was adults being Idiots. They act so mighty and smart when in reality they are just as dummy. And your old man is the biggest idiot of all, so ya ain't in fault here. No worries."
“Despite the crass language... I do agree. I do not understand what Masaki-san sees in him.”
“Make that two of us, Blackie.”
Ichigo blinked. That was reassuring. Somewhat.
“Umm... Thank you?”
“Heh. Anytime.” “You are welcome.”
Ichigo knows he shouldn't trust them. They are strangers. He never meets them before That Night, and they are rather cryptic. Saying that his parents (or rather, his goofball of a father) can't be trusted. Telling him that some creeps were stalking him with an invisible camera and all. That they are suspicious, too.
Yet he did. He trusts them. Somehow he knew in his bones that they can be trusted. They won't lie to him. They will always speak the truth. And... weren't their warning justified? If they didn't warn him... brr...
So, he trusts them.
Don’t make me regret this.
TBC