Let Me Tell Of a Mother's Love

A letter came marked a friend, the writing was familiar to him. The smell and scent he couldn't doubt it any longer. It was without a doubt his mother, the single most important person. Kokokine Kuchiki, she survived the fight somehow, his mother had been a fine woman and Shinigami. Takehiko had stumbled and tried to find his way. He'd left the Kuchiki Manor in a hurry. Leaving out to this location where he could find her. The letter came by way of Raven, his mother's favorite Kido spell. A raven turning into a letter to deliver a message.

His journey had been a ravenous and painful one. From when he met Elyss the first time to his hollowfication happening. He'd managed to win many quiet victories and battles. Developing and trying to become someone honorable. For his mother and his father. His vice Captain's badge wore tightly around his appendage. He had gone without a second thought, considering his journey up until now. Lost had been experienced emotions had been concealed and repressed. Not dealt with giving rise to his own inner turmoil.

He arrived in a small village, it was tiny with what little it had left. In a hut with straw for a roof and less than modern touches. He entered the candlelit room, seeing elderly women caring for someone. The woman was covered in bandages from head to toe, looking like a mummy. The injuries were severe as a doctor he knew it. "Mother...I.." Words failed him as tears dripped down his cheek. He was too weak again, too powerless to save her. His head rested on her sheets. As her gentle hand touched his head. "Take, it's alright..I've had a good life and known much love."

He was so helpless, he reached for his Zanpakuto the least he could do was mend her pain. Fix the woman's aches as he touched it. His hands trembled as he cried into her lap. Gently sobbing, as his emotions poured out. "I'm not worthy of being your son..I've failed so many people, Uncle Byakuya, Aunt Rukia, so many of them. I just couldn't do it." His eyes stang with pain and heat resonated from his face.


His mother had a regal strength that he didn't have, she was calm despite sitting here and dying. Takehiko hadn't mastered his emotions, no he repressed them and just didn't deal with them. It made him weak and pathetic in every sense of the word. He felt miserable, sitting here with one of the most important people. His sun was dying and he couldn't save her. This was the pain he wore on his shoulders and chest now. His mother's body bled and suffered terribly from the battle. His hand clenched in a raw bloody fist, how he wished his blood healing would work. He didn't hate his Zanpakuto, what good would it do him?

His mother was able to tirelessly mend and handle nobles. It was her way of doing things. Her Husband was like their son, a mess who didn't cloud or handle things how he should. Boneheadedly going directly at things despite it not working. She brushed his tears aside and smiled beneath her bandages. Reaching that soothing voice only mothers can.

"My dear Take, you've suffered, but you live for it. I'd like to be buried among the others at our home. But, my beloved son. I want to bequeath something to you..I" A coughing fit began as red-tinged some of her bandages, they were fresh. He could tell as he quickly drew his sword, activating the Paintbrush. Quickly addressing her injuries, as blood dripped from him.

Several women behind him began collectively gasping. They saw the blood he used to begin to restore her flesh. He couldn't save her, not unless he bled himself dry. Even that he didn't have enough power or blood to truly rescue his mother. It was all for nothing. But his mother touched his hand and felt the pulse. She could tell now what his sword did. Originally she planned to let him take her hairpin as a keepsake. But this development alarmed her, she almost shot out of bed. If only her body would allow it to be so.

"Stop at once Takehiko! " Her breathing was heavy with an alarm in her voice. She knew that was dangerous, no beyond dangerous. It was a reckless thing where this Zanpakuto harmed her son. She considered for a moment looking around the room. "Leave us, please I need to be alone with my son."

He sealed his Zanpakuto huffing and puffing as he'd lost two pints of blood at that moment. It didn't come easily, no if anything this was difficult in its own way. He rested on her bed, his body and eyes tired from the emotional onslaught he'd gone through. He was broken at this stage, even his mother was disgusted with his Zanpakuto. What else could he do, he didn't have any other ideas. Maybe freeze time on her body or revert it? Sadly such spells were beyond his skills and even his capabilities.

"Had we known, your father and I would have done something..But never did we know such a burden would be cast upon you Take. I had planned for you to take my hairpin and your father's pendant..but I think for my last gift..we can do better." His hands were taken into hers, as blood slowly dripped upon his palms. Laden with her injuries she bent her head pressing it to his forehead. Softly she breathed as her words became softer and more calming.

"Match my breathing, imaging our breaths combining and slowly swirling together in a cascade of your mind."