Whispers of the Moon

Prologue & Death in the Family

Isshin: Masaki! Oh, no!

Isshin Kurosaki ran to his wife's side as fast as he could, worry attached to his every feature, which changed quickly to those of horror as he saw her bleeding arm and head... Urahara Kisuke was already there next to her, tending her wounds.

Isshin: What happened, Kisuke? Isshin asked demanding, breathless.

Urahara: Cool down my friend... It's just a scratch... nothing serious!

Isshin: Nothing my ass! Can't you see she's bleeding, damn it!

Urahara: Of course I can see... Geez! Give me a break! I was only referring to the fact that it could have been much-much worse... lucky I was close by.

Isshin now looked at Masaki, scowling, at first glance one would assume he was angry. If they would look closer, they would  realize just how scared he was.

Isshin: Don't tell me it was an other one?

Masaki smiled at him apologetically.

Masaki: Hey... Don't give me that look! I'm all right! Besides, it's not like I can do anything about it... I don't know why all the hollows appearing are suddenly interested in me.

Urahara gave her a puzzled look, confusion evident upon his face.

Urahara: This was not the first one, to come after you? There were others?.

Masaki: Yeah um... there was two last week, and one the week before that.

Urahara frowned under his hat.

Urahara: That's a little frequent... too frequent to be coincidence.

He said as finished tieing the bandage on her arm, and helped her up to her feet.

Masaki: Thank you, Urahara-san. she said.

Urahara: It's OK but listen My kido should keep the pain away for a few hours, but you might need some medical treatment after that.

Isshin only grunted in acknowledgment.

Urahara: Kurosaki-san?

Urahara turned back to Masaki, looking into her eyes quietly, as though searching for some answers.

Urahara: Haven't you noticed some improvement to your spiritual powers lately?

Isshin tensed up at hearing that question. Masaki thought about it before answering.

Masaki: Now that you mention it... I am able to see and hear ghosts more clearly now... I can even touch them, though I was unable to before.

'I see...' was Urahara's maddeningly mysterious answer. Isshin rounded on him at once.

Isshin: So, what do you suggest Mr Great Big scientist? That her spiritual pressure just skipped of its own accord? If it had happened during the time I was using my powers and spilling out my spiritual energy all the time, I would understand that... but for it top happen now, without any trigger, that is highly unlikely!

Urahara: oh I completely agree... but that's not the case here. It's not her own spiritual pressure that has grown.

Masaki looked up, with a very strange look in her lovely eyes.

Masaki: Your not saying....

Urahara smiled at her gently.

Urahara: That's exactly what I'm saying, my dear.

She continued to look that same, strange way, until a single happy teardrop ran down her face, showing her emotion.
Isshin scratched his neck, looking from Masaki to Urahara and back with deep confusion.