A New Life

☆ Two ☆

1848

A six year old Atsushi gripped tightly to Seiko's green coloured dress as she carried him towards his now former room at The Orphanage, he wished this was real and that he wasn't going to wake up not in the warm arms of this lovely woman.
"This is his room. He doesn't have much." The worker admits. "Not many of them do."
"I understand. I was in the same position once." Seiko admits. Atsushi's shiny (teary) eyes stare up at Seiko in confusion.
"Oh?" The worker asks.
"Many years ago. I was an orphan not so different to little Atsu here. I fought to eat and stay warm and then a loving family came and took me in. I myself can't have any children so... I want to do what those people did for me."
Albeit a sob story to make the woman feel sympathy for the situation but it wasn't a lie. The 852 year old smiled. This worker was lovely, Seiko could feel it, she held no malice or disgust. She genuinely wanted Atsushi safe and for that Seiko made a mental note.
Whenever she dies offer her a job.

"Well Atsu shall I put you down so you can get your things?" She asks. He nods.
"Ma'am if I may..." The worker stumbles. "Your hair... it's the same as Atsushi's you may just get away with being his mother and your partner seems very kind."
"Hmm I suppose our hair is similar isn't that cool Atsu?"
"Oh wow it's s-silber?"
"Silver yes very good."
"I.. did good?"
"Yep so good that you can have anything you'd like for dinner tonight."
"Really?" He asks with widened eyes.
"Yes." She grins watching him be quick to grab a few things and put them in an old pillow case. Seiko winces, She should have brought a bag for him.
Atsushi picks up a few books, not too surprising since he was quite good with words at six and a singular toy he had. A wooden tiger- ironic really. He also grabbed pyjamas and shoved them into the bag before clasping at Seiko's dress. She smiled down at him.
"Is that everything?" He nods. "Would you like me to carry you again?"
"Yes please."
"I hope you enjoy your new home." The worker smiles at Atsushi.
"Thank-you miss Ane."

The Headmaster didn't seem all that upset to be rid of Atsushi and Seiko supposed that was good. Meant she didn't have to fight to take him home. The small six year old held to Seiko tightly as they walked down the entry of The Orphanage.
"How do we get to your house?"
"Hmm?" Oda questions.
"No cart or people to take you to home?"
"We... we are special... Oda can they see us anymore?"
"Special?"
"We are in the clear. Reign come out."
"Hello missstresss... you mussst be Atsssushhi."
"H-hello." Atsushi whimpered.
"He is ssscared?"
"This is Reign. They are a.. butler for me." Seiko says. "They are going to take us home and then we'll let you ask any questions you have."
"Okay... dinner?"
"What would you like for dinner we can ask Melody to make something."
"Tea on rice?"
"That we can do." Oda smiled, ruffling Atsushi's hair. The boy flushed and hid his face in Seiko's shoulder.
"Atsushi can Oda hold you? I need to help Reign get us home."
"Okay." He mumbled with a little yawn. Oda smiled softly as he took the boy in his arms. Seiko grinned before pulling a pin from her hair allowing the long silver locks to drop.
"Pretty hair." Atsushi mumbled. She smiled and discreetly poked him with the pin along with Oda, Reign and herself.
Once Atsushi was comfortable in Oda's arms Reign and Seiko clasped hands with the two in the middle.
"Atsushi shut your eyes. Reign take us home."

A flash burned Atsushi's shut eyes and a cold shiver moved down his spine making him curl into Oda's warmth.
"It'll be over soon." Oda whispered with his eyes shut tight.
It darkened and they found themselves back in Seiko's office. She left the soft warm light humming by her dark wooden desk.
"Atsushi you can look now."
"What happened Oda?" Atsushi asks rubbing his eyes... "woah where are we?"
"Home. Now we'll show you around and let you explore before we have dinner and send you to bed." Oda said.
"... okay." Atsushi agreed allowing Oda to drop him. "Do I need to call you Mr and Mrs Sakunosuke?"
"Nope. Seiko and Oda. This is Reign like we said earlier and I think we'll introduce you to the others later." Seiko gleamed ruffling his hair.
"Okay just checking. Is this an office?"
"Yes. I have a very important job I'll teach you about it another time."
"Okay... dinner?"
"Dinner, a tour and bed time."

Like Atsushi asked for he was given tea on rice for dinner and the gleaming look on his face made the whole ordeal worthwhile.
"Thank-you for the food Miss Melody." Atsushi said.
"It's not a problem sweetheart." The older woman said. She was a small wrinkled lady nearing her late seventies. She wasn't an immortal like many of the workers in the home. She requested to live a normal life to be with her husband who was the former blacksmith of the Fujiwara clan and creator of every individual Scythe.
"The food was deliskus."
"Delicious." Seiko corrected.
"Del-isss-US." Atsushi copied. Melody giggles and pats Seiko on the head.
"He's a cutie alright." Melody said. "Oh Calypso has set up his room between yours and Master Oda's rooms."
"Thank-you Melody."
"... aren't you two married?" The six year old asked.
"Oh... we aren't. My last name is Fujiwara. We pretended to be married so we could adopt you."
"You wanted to adopt me before you came to meet me?"
"Yes we did. You see you are very special similarly to Oda and myself and I want to help you grow big and strong. I wanted to tell you about it tomorrow."
"Tomorrow. Okay I can wait. Can I see the house now?"
"Yes. It's very big I hope we can show you everything." Oda laughed.

Oda wasn't lying the house was a mansion... well close enough. There was a large meeting room, a few offices, bedrooms, a large ball room, medical bay, kitchen, lounge room and empty rooms. Atsushi's mind was spinning- he almost thought it was a dream.
"And outside here is Mr Rikket he's the grounds keeper he keeps an eye on Whisper and Echo when we let them outside." Seiko said introducing Atsushi to the tall lanky looking man who had to not only bend down but crouch to reach Atsushi's height to shake his hand.
"Whisper and Echo?"
"You can meet them tomorrow they are my dogs. And inside we have some cats hiding about the place."
"Cats! I like dogs too." He said quickly thinking if he showed favouritism Seiko would be mad.
"I like all animals I'd give them all a home if I could. Anyway this is a little playground and swimming pool just behind that fence there."
"Wow... Seiko?"
"Yes Atsushi?"
"Why.. why is the sky red here? And the grass purple?"
"We... we are in a different part of Japan." She lied... she couldn't really tell the sweetheart they were in a pocket of hell could she?
"Okay..." he yawned. "M' sleepy."
"Alright lets go to bed and tomorrow can be the official start of your new life."
"Okay."
"I'll let Oda bathe you."
"Seiko..."
"Yes my little tiger?"
"Thank-you for saving me."
"Always."