Chapter 1 : A Crow's funeral

It seemed very quiet and empty in the city landscape of Karakuda Town. Neither humans nor animals would dare try to disturb this peaceful night. Only nature roamed around the city, while raindrops echoed from one building to another, like guards protecting the castle and maidens were dancing around the rooftops.

A nature's showers made a clapping sounds whilst raining cats and dogs throughout an entire area. Even the outside of houses and mockingly painted the lights of buildings on roads. Shortly afterwards, a red-coloured water had turned a tiny stream into a river of blood, rushed towards the drain which led to a body of a monster-like creature.

Miraculously, a mysterious monster had lay down dead. With its lifeless eyes began to fade from its hallow mask, its entire body desecrated into dust from the legs to its head. It doesn't take long before a man stands in front of it, watching the monster as it faded away like the wind blowing away ashes and dusts.

" Another Hallow bites the dust.", he murmured. A man wearing a black kisode, a black hakama, a white hakama-hido and a waraji, holding his sword downwards while covered in scars and deep scratches around his upper body and face. He glanced at a dead hallow figure whilst its blood was washed off by droplets of rain. After its body disappeared into thin air, he placed his 'clean' sword back to its scabbard.

Nobody knew who he was, but some kinds like him are Soul reapers. Their job is to protect innocent lost souls from harmful ones, like Hallows. Once they're killed, a soul reaper must assist the lost soul to the Soul society, although some souls may have gone to somewhere else at the spirit world.

Just as he turned around, he saw a ghost of a little boy. He saw how terrified he was after a Hallow from across the street trying to attack him. In sympathy, he went towards him, knelt down and asked :

" Hey, what are you doing here, little guy?"

" Nothing.... I was minding....my own business....when a monster went attack me." the little boy stammered, as if fear had played his mind.

The man sighed and asked: " I see. What's your name, kid?"

" Koji... Koji Kurotsugi? Yeah... It is my name. " he answered.

" Oh. Listen, Koji. I'll send you to a safer place, so that no monsters will attack you."

He looked at him in the eyes that had filled with joy.

" Really? That would be so cool. "

" Now hold still, so you can rest in peace. " he said as he held his hilt and went directly to his forehead.

Although it was written something, it caused a glowing light of pure white around Koji and disappeared into thin air, leaving nothing but a butterfly with black and dark purple wings, in colour, flattering away from the human world to the spirit world. Looking at the spirit of a young boy headed to the Soul society didn't bother him. Unusually, he'll miss him.

He went back in his car, placed his sword behind the back seat, whilst turning his soul reaper clothes back to his normal white shirt, dark blue denim and black shoes and reviving the engine. He drove himself home where he would be spending time with his only friend. His friend was apparently pregnant along with her husband besides her. Despite he didn't share any blood ties with them, he knew they were his first family he had.

He had a task to protect them from danger, like the arch angel. Even if he knew he made a promise to a certain person, he's been very busy killing Hallows and evil spirits that reigns the entire city. Knew it's a few blocks away from the street, he had decided to spend more time with them.

Just as he's this close to be reaching his corner, he saw a woman with long curly orange hair, wearing a pale blue shirt and a long blue skirt. She held an umbrella, while stood still outside at the road like a mad woman. She was very anxious and frustrated to see him. He pulled over, just to know what she really wants and why she was outside. Lividly, she went towards him and asked :

" Koro, where have you been? Neji was looking all over for you."

" Masaki, what are you doing here? Isn't Isshin supposed to be here?" Koro asked.

" Apparently, he's taking care of Ichigo. And I was supposed to ask you that question. Anyway, Keitaro is in labour." she said.

" What?! "

" Don't 'what?' me, mister."

In shock, Koro couldn't believe that his only friend, Keitaro, was actually in labour. Because he knew that she was carrying twins after nine months, he was even shocked to realised that her time had finally come.

" Alright, get in the car. " said Koro.

Without words, Masaki closed the umbrella and went inside a car, whilst Koro revived his engine. After he took a U-turn, and drove off in the middle of the rainy night, he asked Masaki :

" Where are they?"

" At the hospital. I'll show you where. We have to hurry."

" Okay."

~~~~~~

Once they'd reached to the hospital, where Masaki believed that's where Keitaro and Neji were, they rushed towards the receptionist.

" Ma'am, could you tell me where Keitaro Kagami is?" asked Koro as he panted near the receptionist table.

The receptionist, looked at Koro, with a scent of watermelon chewing gum in her mouth and asked : " Are you related to patient?"

" No. Actually she's an old friend of mine." he answered

" Alright, she's at the maternal ward on your right at room 257, 3rd floor. You can use the elevator." she answered as she blew a bubblegum until it created a tiny explosive pop sound.

" Alright, we'll check it out. Thanks, ma'am." he said.

Masaki nodded before they rushed towards the elevator. Sadly, the elevator is full of patients those days. However, their only option was the stairs. So, they ran extremely fast and they had finally reached the 3rd floor and room 257. It wasn't as quite as they expected what they've had discovered, even though the door was wide open when they got in.

They saw a woman, with black hair with a red streaks, screaming in agony. Her husband tried to calm her down, while doctors and nurses tried to figure out the problem since she's in labour. Masaki went with one of the doctors and asked :

" How is she?"

" Not good. It appears she's carrying triplets. We have never seen anything like this before." answered the doctor.

" But you said they'll expect twins." She said

" I thought they were, until this shows up.", he gave her the baby pictures and was shocked to see that there was another one inside her womb." Even though the babies weren't---"

" Doctor, we can see the head. " shouted one of the nurses.

" I want any of you to stay here and wait. " he said

" I'll do it. I'll assist, Keitaro." said Koro

" Koro?"

" Trust me on this, Masaki." he said as he looked at her, in an anxious tone. He left afterwards.

Without any words left, she agrees to stay. Whilst Koro went back to the room. Behind these closed doors, hearing terrifying screams due to labour. Masaki waited for any answers from Koro, before she decides to go home after the rain.

15 hours later....

As the weeping clouds finally stopped and a lazy sun slowly poked at them, creating a tiny ray of light, three children were born at the same time. A wailing of three newborns echoed at the room. Doctors and nurses were exhausted after the labour. As for the parents, they were so happy to see their little ones healthier, carrying two girls and one boy.

" Koro, I'd like to thank you for your help." said Neji, joyfully.

" You're welcome.", Koro said, as he sat down at the chair, feeling tired., "Thinking of a better name for the kids?"

" Actually we do. We decided to name them after my great grandmothers. ", Neji, then carried the youngest out of the triplets. A little one might be slightly taller than the others while it's tiny dark violet hair and powdered blue eyes showed up.," This one's a bit shy, yet curious. But she reminded me of her mother. So, I should name her Rangiku. "

" Hmmm. Sounds like a beautiful name for a little girl. "

He scoffs and continues, as he went to the second child, similar to her mother's hair, royal blue eyes:

" Another one. She looks just like her grandmother. Beautiful, yet very smart and elegant, but very fierce. So, her name is Yoshimura. "

Koro was impressed to learn that some of the kids were named after their great grandparents and the ones before them. He was even curious as he saw that their is a little boy, with blonde hair and bright blue eyes glancing at him, while his mother gently carried him.

" What about that one? "

" Oh, he's the one responsible for all this trouble."

" A little straight edge, I see."

" I guess he's quite strong, but so small."

" At least he does have a heart to his sisters, even a mother."

" Koro, I already named him." said Keitaro.

Confused by her reaction, he asked : "Already?"

She nodded. " He looked so much like my father, but different. He could risk his own life just to protect the people he loves in the future. Such a small child, yet big in heart. I should named him Ichitaro."

" Ichitaro? But he's not that big." said Neji.

Keitaro looked at him, as if flames were going to attack him, which gave him a little scare.

" Then, it's decided. We should raised our kids, even Tanjiro. No one will change my mind and even think of letting someone to adopt my little babies, got it?! "

" Right. " Both said in a union, terrified voice.

~~~~~~~

After few days at the hospital and Keitaro's big decision, they went home along with the babies with ease. Isshin and Masaki decided to create a dinner party for them, since they were next-door neighbours. Despite the fact that it's rare to have more than three children these days, they didn't have a care in the world if they knew about it as long as their kids are okay. Koro carried little Ichitaro alone and sat on top of the rooftop, while watching the sunset after a really long time.

" You know kid, I really kinda like you. But when you're older, you have to train yourself strong enough to defeat Kazumi." said Koro. " Luckily, you're asleep. Otherwise you'll cry louder than your older brother. Just stay as a baby for now. Sooner or later, I will teach you a thing or two. However, I'll never tell you that I had implanted a certain dragon, which can destroy any stronger opponen. Therefore; I'll keep this to the grave."

Seeing Ichitaro yawned at him, made him realised that someday Ichitaro could grow stronger, especially when there is a certain secret that he must keep, so that no one can find out.

After spotting a flock of crows sitting on a dead tree. Koro, eventually, not only noticed that they've wanted to see the baby, but also he knew that it must be the long lost spirits of those that were no longer alive in the spirit world.

Curiously, he saw one crow staring at him. In a deep, disembodied voice, it said to him before it went back to its colony :

" Take care of him, Koro Yamagata." By time crows had scattered themselves, as if they've had exploded and went their separate ways, he went back to the house just to spend a few times with them. As long as his skeletons are remained hidden in his closest.