𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒍𝒚 (𝑲𝒖𝒓𝒐𝒔𝒂𝒌𝒊) 𝑬𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 »« 𝙱𝙻𝙴𝙰𝙲𝙷/ᴋɴʏ

i.

    Kurosaki Ichigo was always a momma's boy. Much to Shiba Isshin's chagrin. To Kurosaki Isshin, it was annoying, but even if his firstborn son never grew out of it, he'd learn how to become a soldier one way or another. It didn't help that Kurosaki Masaki took every opportunity to coddle and shelter their son from the spirit world and even the Quincy Arts.

  Masaki, Isshin being too dense to realize, protected their son because of the ever present threat to humanity–and she sometimes thinks spirits as a whole–that endangers even the most seasoned demon slayer. She never cared for her Quincy heritage, and knowledge of Hollows, Shinigami, and Soul Society did nothing to help her beautiful Ichigo–and later her beautiful twin daughters–survive against demons.

  A human-made monster needs to be killed by human-made ways. Unfortunately, Quincy, Hollow, and Shinigami all shared a largely inflated arrogance and belief that normal humans were inferior to them.

  If Masaki had her way, her children would not know of the spirit world until they were all teenagers at least. She needed her time devoted to teaching them how to kill demons. That didn't mean she didn't write down every single thing she knew about the Quincy, Shinigami, and Hollows, even delving into the old books and texts of her Quincy heritage and rewriting them for her children as well. Just as a precaution in case things went wrong.

  As she rushes forward to protect her son from a Hollow she knows wasn't there by coincidence, Masaki regrets not at least teaching them the basics of the world only few can see. As she feels her Quincy powers get ripped out of her soul, tearing it to shreds even as she kills the Hollow, she curses herself–and Yhwach, the fucking coward–for not preparing them for anything.

  Prepare for the unexpected, expect the worst, and hope for the best. Something her own mother taught her, ingrained it into Masaki's memories before they even got to the actual training. Masaki will make sure her son won't make the same mistake as she did.

  "My... son... my peony... you must... must listen. I thought–more time... I didn't have. The journals–they will... help you and... and the girls." Masaki leaves a blood soaked kiss on Ichigo's slashed left cheek, right under his eye. She starts to cry as her body becomes cold, crying for her children who will now have to fight in two wars, one that they should never be a part of.

  She didn't want to leave her son alone. She didn't want to leave her daughters. She didn't want to leave Isshin, the sweet fool.

  "Mama... Mama!" Ichigo manages to speak through his choking sobs and wheezes. Masaki forces herself to raise her head, gently cradling her son's face.

  "Sh-shhh... You'll... you'll be okay. My peony... you must... must look... after–after the girls. I'm... I'm sorry I-I have to... leave. Love you... I love... you with my–my entire soul," Masaki speaks softly, ignoring her tears that fell on her son's face. She kisses Ichigo's forehead, trying to keep her own sobs at bay.

  It fully hits her, freezing whatever blood is left in her body. This was a soul deep problem... she'll likely never see her children again.

  "Mama! Don't–don't leave me! Don't leave–leave Yuzu and Karin! Please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ichigo weeps as Masaki grows fainter by the second.

  "Oyakata-sama..." Masaki whispers, eyes fluttering shut. "My... my child is young... but he... is ready. He will... will be... my... successor..."

  "Mama! Please! MAMA!"

  Masaki falls limp on top of her nine year old son, crushing his body with hers. A flutter is heard before a crow is seen flying off into the sky. Her bright blue butterfly clip lays limp in her blood soaked hair, a shock of color against the muted orange.