High Regards

AN: Hello there! Hope this is well liked! And if you haven't been staying current with Bleach, you will get spoiled in this fic. Anyways, here we go! Hope everyone is in character! Serious Isshin is tricky. Sorry if he seems OOC, but he seems like he's hiding something. Not saying he's crooked, but I think there's more to him than meets the eye.

"You're back again? Did you forget that I can see you?"

"No. I knew you could. Sorry I haven't said hello to you before now."

"Please take a seat. I assume you want to hear about my son?"

"Yes. That's true Mr. Kurosaki."

"Then take a seat Rukia. And call me Isshin. You're making me feel old."

"How is he?" Rukia demanded softly, urgently.

Isshin sighed. "He's regressing. Spends less time with his friends. He has a job now too. Tatsuki mentioned that he means to live by himself when he graduates."

"Tatsuki told you that?" Rukia laughed softly. "Do you really keep that close a tabs on your son?"

"Ichigo fought in a war. He lost his mother. He's a high school student who has killed with his own hands. I thought it would only be appropriate to look after him."

"You are proud of him though aren't you?"

"More than I ever thought possible. But as I said, he's regressing. I spoke to Ishida as well. Everyone is worried about Ichigo. Anyways, Ishida noticed something very interesting about Ichigo."

"And that would be?"

"Reitsu." Isshin smirked.

"I figured as much." Rukia sighed, "Someone like Ichigo could never lose all his powers. He's too strong."

"You think pretty highly of my son, don't you?"

"All I'm saying is that he's strong. And honestly, I'm glad that he still has some powers. Ichigo could never endure a normal life. I'm sure that's strange. You gave up everything to have him. To have a family. You were willing to give up being to be a Soul Reaper to be human, and he'd rather be a Soul Reaper than live a normal life. That must be strange for you to see."

"That's true. I guess." He admitted, "But I know he has a right to the life he wants, even if it's one I didn't want for myself."

"Spoken like a good father." She assured him.

"There's something else. Urahara told me. Karin visited him today. She's trying to get stronger."

"That's good I suppose." Rukia murmured.

"Ichigo overheard. I don't know why he knew to be there, but I wonder if someone told him. There's a lot of things about me, about our family, that Ichigo doesn't need to know yet. And I think someone wants him to find out."

"And do you have any suspects?"

"Ginjo Kugo."

"And your reasons?"

"It's too early. I'm sorry. But would you please, just, look over him? He can't see you. And you can tell me how he's doing."

"That would be a violation of his trust. If Ichigo is going to be caught up in trouble because of you, then I'm not going to spy on him for your sake."

"Then why are you here Rukia? You've visited him every time you're in town. It's been over a year since you've talked to him. You have other duties to perform as a Soul Reaper. So why are you visiting him?"

"It's just as you said, Mr. Kurosaki. I hold your son in high regards."

AN: Please review.