Kyoto, Japan
It was raining when Toushiro left the apartment he and his mother shared. In hindsight, he should have brought an umbrella along, but his defense, he was a bit caught up in his own thoughts. You see, today was his 18th birthday, and only a few years back on this very day, his life got a lot more complicated...
-----
Two Years Ago
-----
It was on a day like any other that Shiro's life changed. On this day, he was heading home from school, just like any other day. Today, however, as he exited the elevator, he could hear voices coming from down the hall. And they seemed to be coming from... his apartment?
Concerned about his mother, Shiro practically sprinted down the hall, soon reaching the door, which was slightly ajar. Cautiously, he peered through.
"I said no!" His mother's voice shouted, "After you left, I had to raise my son on my own! You can't take him away from me, after you did nothing for him!"
"But I don't want to take him just yet," said a deep, unfamiliar but undeniably male voice. "I only wanted to see him on this, his special day!"
Shiro realized that he was the one they were talking about, and, curiosity getting the better of him, pushed the door open. Both inhabitants turned towards the door as he entered. One of course, was his mother. Yamamoto Suzume shared her son's dark hair and hazel eyes, but where he was tall and broad-shouldered, she was short and slender.
As fir the man... Shiro's school bag slipped from his suddenly numb grasp. The man in front of him was tall, even taller than Shiro himself, with long, wild red hair and an unkempt beard. He was also dressed in Samurai-style armor, and strapped across his back was an extra-long katana.
The giant man smiled, his stormy gray eyes shining. "Well now, you must be Toushiro! My, you look a lot like your mother, but with my build!"
Shiro's mouth opened and closed for a few moments before he finally found his voice. "...Who are you?"
The man's mouth turned into a frown. "You mean you don't know who I am? I thought your mother would have told you about me, your, father."
"F-father?" Shiro couldn't believe it. This man was his father? Then why had he abandoned his mother before he was born?
"No... no way! You can't be my father! Especially a deadbeat who would abandoned his family!"
The man's eyes narrowed. "Be careful of who you speak to, boy, for I am Susanoo, Lord of the Seas and Storms. At Shiro's disbelieving look, he added, "I see you need proof of my divinity? Then behold!"
He raised his hands in the air, and a storm cloud suddenly appeared between them. The air was filled with ozone as it flashed with lighting, and a sudden wind kicked up out of nowhere, blowing loose papers around.
"Stop! Stop!" You've made your point!" Suzume shouted, trying to be heard over the sudden storm.
Susanoo lowered his arms, and the wind stopped before the cloud vanished.
"...Why are you here?" Shiro asked cautiously.
"I have heard rumblings of changes in the future." Susanoo told them, "But I don't know when. So I chose to come to warn you."
"...But, why me?"
"You have inherited my traits than you can use to protect yourself and the ones you care about, but to help you on your way, I bring with me a gift."
Susanoo placed his meaty palms together, slowly pulling them apart to reveal another sheathed katana between the. "Take it, my son, this is my gift to you."
Cautiously, Shiro reached forward and picked up the sheathed sword from Susanoo - his father's - hands. It felt... right, somehow.
"This sword is named Hakura. I had it specially made for you in case you ever need it. I feel a change coming soon, Toushiro, and I want you to be prepared for the day it finally comes." He turned his gaze on Shiro's mother, "I truly am sorry, Suzume, for not being away for so long, but I hope to at least make up with it with a gift... and a warning."
He put a hand on Shiro's forehead. "Don't forget, you must be ready for when danger comes. Be safe... my son."
And then he was gone in a flash of lighting and a rumble of thunder.
------
Shiro was so lost in his thoughts he didn't see the old woman step out of the alleyway until she grabbed his wrists and began muttering something in another language.
"Ore...?!" Was all he managed to get out before everything went black...
---
When Shiro came to, he found himself in a cabin filled with a variety of odds and ends, lying next to a boy and girl about his own age. And sitting in front of them (in a chair that looked suspiciously like it was made of bones) was the old woman who must have brought them here.
"Finally awake. Well, you still have some time before they come pick you up. Need anything? Get it yourself!"
Shiro blinked. The woman was speaking English, he he could at least understand, having taken some English classes in school. He had learned enough to get by (intending to study abroad after graduating), but he didn't realize he'd be using it so soon.
The other boy sat up, glaring at the old woman. "I know what I need! I need you to bend over... bend over...so I can ram my foot...up your wrinkle hole!. You better have a good reason for this..." And who in the hell might you two be?". He asked of the other two.
Not wanting to agitate the hothead anymore, Shiro hurried to respond. "Konnichiwa. Boku wa...um... Hello, my name is Yamamoto Toushiro, but you can call me Shiro for short. Nice to meet you."
