Even from the top of the great building, Ichigo could hear the thunderous noise of the rejoices of the crowd below. Sitting pretzel legged on the ground, he watched the crowd around him move. So much was happening, bottles popping, laughter, a party. Ichigo had fought Aizen only yesterday. Though he had weakened the tyrant during their battle, Kiske Urahara was the one who had really defeated Aizen. Ichigo, still, had received a large amount of credit.
The orange tinted field around him kept him from celebrating with the others, but it was absolutely necessary. The field was the work of Orihime, and she was "healing" Ichigo. A while ago, Aizen had discovered that Orihime Inoue's powers did not heal, but revered time. On any object she wanted. She could even bring people back to life. That's kind of what she was doing. She was bringing Ichigo's soul reaper powers back to life.
After losing them when battling Aizen, Ichigo was turned into an ordinary human being. Orihime had worked, precisely, 24 hours to bring Ichigo's powers back, and the process was close to complete.
He could already feel the connection with his Zangpaktoe and his rashi filling him up.
Ichigo was almost done. He was almost himself again. He turned to look at Orihime. The poor orange-brown haired girl looked terrible. With no sleep she had produced large purple bags under her hazel eyes. Her hair was plastered to her face due to sweat, and she looked as if she desperately needed food and water.
She's so delicate. I should've never let her do this. Ichigo thought to himself. In an instant, their eyes connected and the orange-y force field opened on Ichigo and enveloped back into Orihime's hairpin.
"Am I done?" Ichigo asked, slightly surprised. He didn't FEEL done yet.
"Yep." Orihime sighed and stood. Ichigo stood with her. "It'll take a few days to get back to your full potential. Just rest." The sleepy-eyed Orihime breathed. She swayed for a moment. Ichigo snorted. "YOU rest." Orihime nodded loosely with half open, half closed eyes. Ichigo didn't know if she'd registered his words and put a large hand on her rounded shoulder. "Find Rukia." He spoke to her face as clearly as he could. "She'll find a nice, quiet place where you can sleep."
Orihime took a moment to soak up the words, and then stumbled off to find Rukia. As she disappeared into the crowd Ichigo turned the other way and laughed silently to himself. Orihime was a ditz sometimes, but she had a good and loyal heart.
"HEEEEYYYYYY!" A man's voice rose up from behind Ichigo, and a familiar hand touch his broad shoulder. Ichigo turned and half smiled. Renji was smiling like an idiot with a cup of Saki (Japanese alcohol) in his fist. "Hi Renji." Ichigo said in an amused voice. The red haired, eyebrow tattooed man returned the half smile. "Your hair got longer." Renji observed. He's defiantly had one too many. Ichigo thought to himself. "You look older with it long." Renji concluded. "I fought Aizen, and lost my soul reaper powers. It was stressful to say the least, maybe THAT'S why I look older." The men exchanged a breathy laugh.
Then Renji's expression turned serious. "What're you going to do now?" He asked in a concerned tone. "Spend time with my family. Go back to the world of the living." Ichigo replied with a shrug. Renji's face fell downward a little. "You mean you're not staying here, in the Soul Society?" Ichigo could feel Renji's dismay, or maybe it was because Renji was a little drunk, but for some reason, something inside Ichigo pitted Renji. Ichigo laughed once and smiled. "I'll come back and see you guys." Renji smiled and nabbed a cup of Saki from a passing-by young man, who was clearly not old enough to drink. The boy looked as if he was about to protest, but then decided better and walked away.
"I'll drink to that!" Renji said and handed the stolen cup of Saki to Ichigo. They clanked their cups together and took a sip. Renji had managed to guzzle the whole cup down, while Ichigo took one sip and grimaced at the bitter taste.
"Mmmm!" Renji exclaimed. "That's some good Saki." Ichigo smiled, big and fake. "Yeah." He choked out. "Um- ah- I-If you'll excuse me for a moment." Ichigo backed politely away from Renji and speed walked towards the nearest restroom. But, being in the captains' building, he had no clue where that was! All he knew was that he wanted to pour this disgusting Saki down the drain and he desperately needed to take a leak.
"ICHIGO!" Just by the sound of that voice, instinct triggered Ichigo to turn around. Rukia Kuchiki was standing behind him. "Why'd you send Orihime to me?!" She yelled at him. Obviously upset. "I had to flash step all the way from here to my house…AND BACK! Flash step may be easy for YOU, Ichigo, but for SOME of us, it's a little more difficult!" Ichigo furrowed his eyebrows. "Why'd you do that?" Rukia huffed and rested her weight on her right hip. "There are people partying EVERYWHERE! It would've taken me DAYS to get to my house!" Ichigo let her catch her breath. He studied her small, petite figure. "What're YOU lookin' at!?" Ichigo felt his ears burn slightly. "Nothing." He replied as fast as he could.
"ANYWAYS." Rukia continued. "Orihime's sleeping at my house now, so don't worry about that anymore." Ichigo smiled at her. He didn't know why, exactly, but it came so naturally.
"Ichigo Kurosaki." Boomed and old, shaking voice behind him. Why the hell is everyone on my ass today!? Ichigo screamed in his head. The party was silenced for a moment. When Ichigo turned to face the voice addressing him, the crowd around them began to whisper to one another. "Head Captain Yamamoto." Rukia addressed the old, wrinkled man with infinite respect. "Sir?" Ichigo replied. The hunched over man took in a breath. "As head captain, I have a proposition for you." Yamamoto let his words resonate in the air, then took another breath. "For your heroic actions and abilities unlike any other, I'm offering you a spot as Captain of Squad 13." Many gasps where heard in the room. Rukia's violet eyes widened. Squad 13! That's the highest squad! She thought to herself, shocked at what was happening.
Ichigo's chocolate eyes widened as well as Rukia's. "S-sir." Ichigo stuttered in shock. "I-I'm flattered, really." The faint smile on the head captain's face faded. Ichigo thought about the current squad captain, Jushiro Ukitake. That was Rukia's captain! What would happen to him? Ichigo didn't even WANT this. The soul society's dynamic design didn't fit him well. "But I'll have to turn down your offer." Ichigo concluded. More whispers. "I want to live in the world of the living, peacefully, with my family. Sir." Ichigo finished.
"I have to say, I'm disappointed in you Mr. Kurosaki." Captain Yamamoto sighed and shook his head. "I was hoping to have you as one of my captains." With a slow blink, Ichigo and the Head captain exchanged a look, then the elderly man hobbled off to the nearest table of Captains.
After that, the party regained life. Rukia slapped the back of her hand on Ichigo's bicep. "Ichigo!" She hissed, wide eyed. "You just turned down an offer that would've changed your life forever!" Ichigo smiled. "But I don't want my life to change." He lulled. His comment left Rukia speechless for a moment. "Don't worry." Ichigo smiled bigger and showed his teeth. "I'll come back to visit you! I'll even stop by the Kuchki clan mansion." He laughed.
I'll come back and visit you. The words floated in Rukia's mind. "Ichigo." She said, giving him an urgent look. "I have to tell you something." Ichigo's happy face contorted into a serious and concerned one. "What's wrong?" He bent down to try to look directly into Rukia's eyes. She denied the eye contact and looked down towards the wooded floor. "I-I'd like to stay in the world of the living." Rukia started, licking her lips, which had recently become dry. "If…"- she looked upwards into Ichigo's warm, amber eyes- "If that's alright with you and your family."
Rukia had grown quite attached to the Kurosaki family. And to Ichigo. Especially to Ichigo.
Ichigo smiled so warm and so comforting, it was impossible for Rukia not to return it. "Of COURSE you can!" Ichigo half laughed. Rukia began to smile uncontrollably, and squealed. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" She was so overjoyed. Flutters in her stomach began. As much as she loved her older stepbrother, Baykuya, Rukia could not live in that big, empty house with him again. In the world of the living, she had a family. Chad, Uryu, Orihime, and Ichigo! Especially Ichigo. They really where family to her.
"Excuse me for a second." Ichigo said gently to Rukia. He as he moved around her, she had a sudden urge to hug his muscular body, but fought the urge.
Ichigo had spotted the bathroom! Damn it! He thought to himself. If I don't get in there soon, I'll piss my pants!
Luckily, he made it to the restroom in time.