Bleach: Gazing Mirage

Chapter 19

As Kira lay in her dorm room, taking a well-deserved day off from her duties as a soul reaper trainee, she was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door. Groggily, she got up to answer it, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. When she opened the door, she was greeted by the head maid of the Ankoku household, dressed in her traditional black and white livery.

"Good morning, Kira-sama," the maid said with a bow. "Your mother and father have requested your presence at the main house."

Kira's heart sank at the mention of her parents. Though she had long since learned to suppress her emotions, the memories of her childhood still haunted her.

"I shall be there shortly," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

As the maid left, Kira couldn't help but think back to her childhood, before everything had changed. She remembered the love and warmth of her family, and how they had always treated her like a precious treasure. But all of that changed the day she awakened her zanpakuto.

It was a moment of pure joy for young Kira, as she had always been fascinated by the powerful swords wielded by the soul reapers. And when she had picked up her own zanpakuto for the first time, it immediately responded to her, granting her a very powerful ability within a certain space, which would affect both herself and her opponents.

But rather than celebrate her accomplishment, her family had looked at her with a new sense of fear and reverence. They stopped seeing her as their little girl, but as a weapon to be used for their house's glory. Fearing that she might one day turn on them, they subjected her to a torturous process where a mark was carved on her back that forced her obedience to her mother and father.

The treatment had been unbearable, both physically and emotionally. It had changed her from a light, gentle, and compassionate person into a cold and calculating personality. She had grown to know the burden of power as a child. She had withdrawn herself from her family and pretended to still be kind, but it was all an act biding her time.

As she made her way to the main house, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. She knew that her parents only summoned her when they needed something from her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that this would be another one of those times.

When she arrived, her mother and father were waiting for her in the grand reception hall. Her mother, dressed in her traditional kimono, sat on a throne-like chair, while her father stood behind her, his arms folded across his chest.

"Kira, my dear," her mother said, her voice cold and distant. "We have a mission for you."

"Yes, mother. What is it?" Kira asked, trying to keep her voice as calm and detached as possible.

"There is a rogue soul reaper who has been causing trouble in the Soul Society," her father said. "We want you to eliminate him."

Kira's mind raced. She knew that her parents only cared about their own power and prestige, and that these missions were just a way for them to eliminate a potential political rival.

"I understand," she said, bowing her head in obedience.

"Good," her mother said, a hint of a smile on her lips. "We expect you to complete this mission with the utmost efficiency and discretion. Failure is not an option."

"Of course Mother," Kira said, her voice devoid of emotion.

"We have also arranged for a small team of elite soul reapers allied with our family to assist you on this mission," her father added. "They will meet you at the designated location."

"Thank you, Father," Kira said, feeling a sense of dread in the pit of her stomach. This was the first time they had deemed it necessary for her to receive help from an outside source. She knew that her parents were only using her, and that they would willingly sacrifice her and this team without a second thought if it meant achieving their goals.