Deep Waters: A Ripple In Time - 4 - First Meeting

IGO Headquarters - 16 years ago

“Shiroitora honey, you don’t have to hide behind me,” Ayume said, trying to encourage her seven year old daughter to step out from behind her.  The Kamidogus had stopped by IGO Headquarters to meet with Ichiryuu and had brought their only child along. They had heard that the IGO President took in several children to raise as his own. It would be the first time that the Kamidogus would meet them.

Shiroitora’s large golden brown eyes peeked out from around her mother’s side, staring at the four boys fidgeting around in front of them. A girl younger than her was playing with some rocks on the ground, not paying attention to the others.

One of the boys decided to run over to an area of the Garden where some flowers were growing, picked one, and ran back over, holding it out in front of him.  His large blue eyes and four colored hair made him stand out over the others. “Hi,” he smiled.

“Go ahead,” Ayume encouraged her daughter. “They won’t hurt you, I promise.”  Ayume side glanced over at the other three boys, then to the boy in front of them.  The boys all nodded in understanding.  They had just felt the elder Kamidogu’s aura.

Shiroitora hesitantly stepped around her mother and took the flower from the boy.

“My name’s Sunny,” he said, doing his best to smile.

“Shi..Shiroitora,” she replied stammering. She was oblivious to the unspoken exchange between her mother and the boys.

“Shi...shi....ra...uh..,” Sunny floundered, unable to pronounce her whole name. “Shi-chan!” he exlclaimed, grinning.

Shiroitora blinked at him, before smiling. “okay.”

“C’mon Shi-chan,” Sunny encouraged, “There’s a pond ov’r on the oth’r side.”

She looked at him blankly, trying to understand his words, before turning to look at her mother.

“It’s okay,” Ayume smiled. “Go have fun while we’re here. I’ll come get you before your father and I leave.”  She turned to the boys. “She’s my only child and with our line of work, Shiroitora hasn’t had a chance to meet other kids like you.”

A dark haired boy stepped up. “I know what it’s like to be the only child. Zebra and Toriko as well. My name is Coco.”

The girl who had been playing on the ground stood up, now noticing that there was another girl in the Garden and squealed in delight. She almost stumbled as she ran toward Shiroitora, wrapping her arms around Shiroitora’s waist. “Hi hi hi hi!,” she squeaked.

Sunny sighed.  “‘m sorry, Shi-chan. This is my sist’r, Rin.”

“Shi-chi!” Rin squeaked, jumping up and down.

"No, Rin!" Sunny exclaimed. "That s'not her name! It's..."

"Shi-chi is fine," Shiroitora interrupted, smiling. “I know my name’s kinda long.”

“Let’s go,” Toriko said, eager to show their new friend the other area of the Garden where the pond was. He was sure there were small beasts Shiroitora’s never seen before.

She followed the others toward where Sunny had said a pond was, chatting happily with the guys and Rin, who struggled to keep pace with them.

Ayume smiled as she watched the children scramble off toward the other side of the Gardens. She had to start countering Itachi's overprotectiveness. She didn't want Shiroitora to be sheltered.  Shiroitora was destined to be a great Bishokuya. She would need to be more worldly and independent from anyone, especially her own parents.

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Shiroitora Kamidogu, Ayume Kamidogu, Itachi Kamidogu (c) Tygerlander
Toriko (c) Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro