He Who Protects

It was a four in the morning. Much too early for anyone sane to be up and running around the street of Karakura Town. It was a good thing the Kurosaki's weren't know for their sanity.

A mother was running down the street dressed in morning clothes with her husband running after him in his soul body. Isshin continued to yell at his wife, telling her to stop or at least slow down. Masaki ignored his pleas and continue running down the street to a small candy shop. She could sense a barrier around it and stood hesitantly around the perimeter.

Her husband stood beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder. He could see she had cried recently and that she was determine to get answers. The father sighed and took a step towards the shop. A black cat, hidden in the shadows, watched as the scene played out. It had a feeling that that lazy shop owner was going to be needed.

It took a silent step toward the window and into a blond haired man's room. He laid there snoring loudly with his hat placed nonchalantly on the floor. It placed a paw on his chest and tried to wake the man.

"Kisuke, wake up. Kisuke," the cat's deep voice called out. He sighed seeing no sign of the man awakening. Three claws appeared and the cat made a quick slash.

The old manager screamed in reaction and sat in the corner healing his injury.

"Yoruichi, why did you do that?" he whined.

"An old friend is here to see you," he answered. His dark eyes looked at the cat in confusion and looked outside his room.

"Kisuke, open the barrier," Isshin ordered. Beyond him, he could see Masaki looking determined to get answers. The blond sighed and went to wake Tessai.

Something told him that he would not get any more sleep today.

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"Lieutenant Kurosaki! Lieutenant Kurosaki!" Two voices screamed at the top of their lungs. The teen's amber jumped up in the air and onto a tree to avoid a collision from the third seat officers.

The two laid dog piled on the floor but immediately recovered as they saw the bush of orange hair in the tree.

"Lieutenant Kurosaki! Captain Ukitake wants to speak to you!" they both said simultaneously. Both looked at each other and argued who had said it first. Ichigo sighed at the two before flash stepping to his captain's office.

He had only just begun to rest after a long day of paper work before the two came to ruin his day of relaxation. The lieutenant could only wonder what the captain wanted him for. He shuddered at the thought the last time he asked for him. The captain had given him an anchor and given it to him while smiling to him as if it was the best present in the world. He had no choice but to accept it.

Ichigo stayed hesitantly at the door. He could hear Rukia Kuchiki inside as well. Did this mean the captain wanted to give him a piece of Rukia's artwork. His face turned slightly green before opening the door.

"Ah Kurosaki. Thank you for coming. I have gotten the approval that you will be going to Karakura town for some time. You will need somewhere to live and a high school application along with- Kurosaki?"

Ichigo remained silent. His eyes showed that he was surprised and that he might faint. His reiatsu seemed more out of control than usual. And captain began to wonder if this was a good idea in the first place.

"When do I have to be there?" he finally asked, the words coming in only a whisper.

"As soon as Kuchiki-san is ready."

At that point the mood changed.

"What! Why does that midget have to come along?" he screamed. Said "midget" kicked her lieutenant in the shins and they began to argue. It took a whole ten minutes to settle them down.

"Please Kurosaki, you have to understand. I told the captain commander that you would be teaching Kuchiki-san about the real world. It was the only way," he explained. Ichigo glared at Rukia but said nothing.

"If you would like, I could change the request," he added.

"It's fine. As long as she doesn't slow me down," he said in his arrogant tone. Another argument erupted but it ended quickly when both heard that they would have to go as soon as possible.

Please, stay safe. Ukitake prayed as the two unlikely friends walked out of his office.

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"Your son you say?" the manager asked. Masaki nodded. Isshin leaned against the wall as the conversation continued. He remembered the reiatsu he felt when he came outside. It was powerful, in fact, it was stronger than his own. It also seemed too much for a high school student should be able to withstand.

"Hmm, well there was some news a year a go that a young adult had passed the academy and had immediately become a lieutenant in the thirteenth devision. He would have become a captain, but they were no openings. They say he has unmistakable orange hair. But that's all the news I know," he said. The mother looked desperate for more information, but quietly said her thanks and left the shop.

Isshin stayed behind.

"Kisuke, you know something don't you," he convicted. The blond man smiled as he put a fan up to his face.

"Always on top of things, aren't you Isshin. Tell me, do you have room for another member for your family?" he asked. The father raised an eyebrow before leaving the shop.

Once he was gone, the manager smiled as he saw the sun rising.

"Jinta! Ururu! Wake up! We have to make sure some new guests find where they belong," he smiled.