An Heir's Troubles [Mia]

...Oh! Mia squeaked. She had...he just reminded her of Masaru so much she hadn't thought!

"S-S-Sorry! You just...like him...s-so I ...didn't think..." Closing it back up and fixing the obi to make sure it was all set, she was beat red as she stared at the most interesting ground in the world. "I-Its safe...now... Thank...thank you... I feel a bit better..."

Now to just figure out what was wrong, if she wasn't a ghost...what was she... Don't think about the fact that you just flashed the poor kid.

"I-I-It's fine, it...it's fine, I-I didn't see anything; p-promise!"

This...Since he reminded her of that other Masaru so much it was easier to make her feel somewhat better about things...he thought, but...maybe how comfortable she was around him wasn't the best...

She seemed just as embarrassed after all!

"W-Welcome..."

Mia nodded, feeling her blush fade. He had...turned in time. Good, Not!Masa was not...not scarred for life. "S-Still I-I'm sorry... Y-You...even sound...like him...s-so...its..."

Its weird for her. Very weird...

Moving to a more like standing position, Mia bowed as she let her panic fall away and remembered her manners. "S-Sorry... I never...really introduced myself. I-I'm Mia...Nezo, th-the...Lieutenant of Division Ten. O-Or was... maybe...before being... a ghost..."

"A-Ah..."

Even sounded like him, this was a really weird coincidence...he...he kinda hoped that doppleganger legend wasn't true!

She is...or was...the lieutenant of the Tenth...? The name didn't seem familiar, then again he hadn't memorized the ranked officers yet...

"It's nice to meet you, I suppose I should give my full name as well then..." He was the only one that could see her so...there wasn't any harm in it right? "Masaru Shirakawa."

Mia smiled softly as he introduced himself, it not sinking in for a few moments... Masaru...Shirakawa.

That...name...

Recognition shone in her eyes as well as utter shock before she eeped and hopped backwards a bit. No! No he WAS Masaru. Young Masaru...

Things...clicked a bit more. Books...books had prepared her for such things... but she still wasn't sure it was possible. Time...she was...back in time?!

How far back was she!? Mia seemed utterly startled and shocked, her face and body frozen like that as her brain worked.

Masaru blinked, not...not having expected such a shocked reaction. Though...maybe he should? If she were a shinigami she'd...probably know the family name, which was...very recognizable.

"Aaah, if...if you end up noticing someone else that can see and hear you can...can you not repeat that I was here? Please, Mia? It'll land me in huge trouble, ahaha..."

That was fine to say, it was common if noble heirs went out they usually had some sort of chaperon or escort! He...obviously had none.

"..." Mia's shock turned instantly into something much much different at his words. It...was much more withdrawn and more than a twinge sad as she nodded. Those words had jolted her from her reaction, realizing what...what he meant. Trouble...

"I won't tell anyone. I swear." She gave him a solemn oath, a small pained smile on her face. He...didn't have the scar... he didn't... that meant... "S-Say...it must be...weird talking to a ghost? S-So maybe we should make sure...we are somewhere...private just in case! S-So no one thinks you are crazy and...d-draws attention?"

"Hm? You alright?" Masaru asked, she seemed upset, pained even... He didn't quite understand, but...he wouldn't pry. He did however, want some reassurance that she was alright, or would...be alright at least...

Somewhere else...that...

Looking around he gave a nod; "Right, that seems like a good idea um...I was heading towards the river, it's usually secluded..."

"I-I will be. Still a little...shocked by this..." Mia winced as he asked that, wanting to ask herself if he was. Masa...Baby Masa...she could barely look at him now without wanting to run over and hug him. That...this was...

How had she ended up like this and here? "River sounds good! If...if I can touch fish I can show you a cool trick my Papa taught me!"

She faked happiness, smiling and laughing a bit forcedly floating on her belly as she moved to follow Masaru where he needed.

He guessed...he could accept that; this whole thing was confusing on why she was like this so...plus, she was worried about her loved ones, so he supposed it was natural to feel pained...

"Alright, to the river then." Saying that, he began heading back towards his original destination; fish? "Hopefully you're able to then!"

The river wasn't far away, though it was obviously a bit farther out than where they had original been.

"Mhm! It'd be a shame to never show someone it... I-I worked hard and practiced th-though it wasn't too hard..." Apparently Papa had had trouble for a long time, Mia had caught on much faster than him! Haha!

The memory was a happy one and it allowed her to smile truly as she followed Baby Masaru's lead. "I wonder if my clothes will get wet..."

"I'd be happy to see it then!" If she'd worked hard on doing this trick she was talking about, then he was sure it was a sight to see! He hoped she'd be able to grab the fish, and be able to touch them rather than phasing through...

H...Her clothes...?

"M-M...Maybe not." Please no...

Baby Masaru seemed happy and she laughed a bit, happy she could make him pleased. Mia floated along beside him, her earlier upset state fading away as she began to hear the river nearby. A bit excited, she hovered ahead with a smile, happy to finally show Masa the...

Not...finally... this wasn't her Masa...but he was a Masa, so her enthusiasm didn't slow too much as she called back. "Hahah, you are really slow! I'll have a fish before you even reach the river at this rate!"

"Huuuh?" Mia's calls had Masaru pick up his pace, running some to keep up. "I hadn't realized it was that big a hurry! I can keep up just fine!"

He'd been walking at a normal pace! He hadn't realized it was a race! Or something close a race anyway! He could keep up just fine!

"I don't know... You were lagging behind a bit!" Mia called out with a happy laugh as Masaru started to hurry more. She waved her hands as she floated on her back before spinning in a loop as she reached the edge of the bank.

"I win! You're a nobleman, I'm not a suitable chaperon so we'll have to stuff all our fun into the shortest amount of time so you don't get in trouble." It seems Mia was now set on helping Masaru enjoy his free time, as her words suggested. Her previous nervousness had all but disappeared after she realized who and what he was...

"You got a head start..." Masaru replied, a slight pout on his features before it vanished and he gave a light laugh.

He was...having fun; he mostly just took walks when out, but he was actually talking with someone and having fun this time.

He gave a nod at Mia's words though; she was right, they were limited in time and he'd need to head back eventually...so they'd just need to have all the fun they could manage until then!

"Prepare for the unexpected at all times!" Mia felt her heart jolt at seeing pouty baby Masa, unable to help giving a small happy smile at the sight. Pouty? She never saw that... It was adorable, she fought the urge to hug the man to her. Teen Masaru would not appreciate hugs...

Instead she turned around and floated over the river... This was so much better, she could just lean over and get some fish! Halting her hover, she held perfectly still and waited...waiting for the perfect moment to strike. She would... there! Hands arced out in a flash as she nabbed a silver scaled fish and tossed it's flopping body towards Masa. It seemed she could grab them! "Caaatch!"

"R-Right!"

Masaru watched as Mia hovered over the river, looking for fish; how did she plan on catching them... Just when he was about to hope she could actually touch them again she grabbed one before...

Tossing it to him!?

He held his arms out in attempt to catch it, a surprised expression crossing his face as Mia called to him to catch it. "G-Got it!" He called back though it wasn't dead and was flopping around so it was a fight almost to keep it in his hold.

It...It was so odd!

Mia floated over to Masaru, laughing at the shocked look on his face and trying not to giggle. This was so silly, his face and his attempts to hold the struggling fish. Reaching out, she nabbed the fish from him with a quick movement before he could react. She then killed it and examined it... Holding it in one hand, it wasn't a big fish really but it was a decent size, she blinked. "You have a dagger right?"

The Masa she knew always carried around a few and Mia wondered if she could use her flames here... "If I catch a few more we can cook some fire roasted fish!"

She wasn't hungry...but Masaru looked as if he could use a few more meals. There were some herbs that grew near the river bank too she could use to spice it up a bit...

"H-Huh!?" A surprised noise escaped him again as Mia took the fish from him rather easily and with a quick moment, killed it. "Dagger? Yes, I have a few..."

How had she known that though? It wasn't common for just all people to carry daggers around...

Whatever though, the idea she had had brightened his expression and mood. He'd just had soup earlier, so having something like fish seemed ideal!

"That sounds good!"

Masaru seemed confused by her knowledge of the daggers and Mia panicked internally as she gave a sheepish smile externally and tried to cover. "U-Uh...yes... if you were sneaking out...it's smart to carrying a weapon since you can't take Ikari with you right?"

... Wait Ikari was right there on his...hip...

Mia clammed up after that, turning away with the fish and just moseying along the river bank while looking for things that she could burn. Yep. Just ignore that. Baby Teen Masaru just...blow that off...

"..." Masaru blinked. She knew about the daggers, and she also knew about...Akari...

He glanced down at his hip to where the zanpakutou rested. How did she know all of this...

...

Wait!

"Oh!" Masaru seemed to look like he'd realized something. "You did say you were in Tenth, if you know all of this then that Library really must have everything! Even if it's recent information it seems...though I'd thought the daggers were a secret...how would they have gotten information on that... They must be really amazing..."

Masaru nodded to himself, that must be the answer...for those things at least.

Mia choked before nodding slowly. Yes, tenth knew...everything..ever...Maybe she could see if he was hurt and heal any injuries by using that excuse...

She felt miserable lying to him, utterly miserable. Teen Masa was so...gullible and easily led, though she remembered him saying he wasn't allowed friends so... Maybe he was just really attached to her because he thought her nice and thus wanted to think the best of things?

Her heart ached so much, her arms gathering pieces of wood to make a fire out of. "H-Here, Masa, can you help me find wood for the fire?"

If she treated him like... a sort of pseudo little...friend it might help? But...he was still her Masa...

This was hard...

Masaru blinked, Mia seemed...a bit upset? Though he couldn't read into her current expression too much. What was there to be upset about though? Well...other than her current "ghost" problem...

Maybe she'd been thinking on that again...

When he saw her reaching for some wood, he gave a nod; "I can help, no problem."

Saying that, he went to looking, gathering up a few good pieces of wood for them. This...should be enough, with what Mia had found along with this they'd have plenty he imagined.

"This enough?"

"That looks perfect! Thank you." Mia smiled warmly as she set her wood down, putting the fish on top of it. She had to get more... she wasn't hungry but she would stuff Masaru. She didn't feel tired either. How odd...

"I'll get some more fish, do you feel up to catching them all and eating them?" Winking, she leaned on her belly in the air, wanting to keep all her feelings just pushed down and focus instead on being his little guardian angel for however long she could.