Everything in Between

Prologue

           In the Creed we must abide
                   by three tenants:

                 Stay your blade from
                      innocent flesh

                  Hide in plain sight

           
               Never compromise the
                        brotherhood

                     Nothing is true,
             Everything is permitted

            We work with in the dark
                    to serve the light,

                   We are Assassins

       "Congratulations Madam Kurosaki, it's a healthy boy!" A midwife rejoiced happily as she handed the new born to his mother. Tears welled up at the mother's eyes as she saw her first child. His cries rang through the room causing everyone to smile. The woman looked over at her husband and inquired, "What shall we name him Isshin?" He smiled and replied, "How about Ichigo?" "Protector of one, it sounds perfect." Masaki exalted calmly. The birds that flew outside the window began to sing their last songs of the day, lulling the new born into a gentle sleep as the sun castes hues of blue, purple, and orange on the horizon. The late evening of July 15, 1896, Ichigo Kurosaki was born to the noble, French household of Kurosaki. For the surrounding neighbors it was a happy night, no one would guess that in a few years time the country would be turned upside down in an all out war. So the guillotine was raised and prepared for its next execution, it's razor sharp blade bloody from the previous series of deaths.

      "Mama, mama!" A little, bright haired boy shout as he came skirting around the corner of a topiary wall. "Yes Ichigo, what is it that you have in your hands?" A motherly voice asked. "I caught a lizard today, mama!" The boy squealed. His mother ruffled his bright hair lovingly, "Well let's see then." Ichigo cracked his small hands open as a small, green, serpentine head peaked through. "What a lovely color!" Masaki complimented. "Can I keep him mama?" She nodded her head and said, "But first I have a surprise for you!" "Really, what is it?" Ichigo exclaimed as he spun around the vast garden, looking for anything different or out of place. "You're going to have sisters, Ichigo." Masaki states gingerly. "Sisters?" The young boy shouted as he jumped around his mother happily. "Yes Ichigo, twins, but don't say anything to Daddy I haven't told him yet!" The three-year-old Ichigo could barely contain his excitement as his father walked through the door at dinner time to enjoy a meal.
But as Masaki told her husband about the upcoming additions to the family. The guillotine slowly began to make its agonizing ascent to the top of its supports.

 
    A day in late April after a light rain Ichigo and his new found friend Tatsuki Arisawa danced and splashed in the puddles. They had just learned to read their first book together and were now enjoying being kids under the supervision of their kind mothers. Ichigo had slipped and knocked himself into a tall, fir tree. As he began to stand up a waterfall came pouring down from the old tree's branches, soaking the pour boy. He began to laugh as Tatsuki stared at him amusedly. Their mothers chatted animatedly as the two kids romped in the yard, play fighting. For what seemed the longest time life was good. Not long after Ichigo's fourth birthday were his twin sisters born into the world. As the siblings grew together Ichigo was always protecting his sisters from the smallest things. The twins adored Ichigo and never went anywhere without their brother, but as their brother's ninth birthday approached he trained with his father in hand-to-hand combat and was unable to spend as much time with them. Ichigo wanted to protect his family from more than just the little things, so he never complained.