If you are a regular reader, welcome back to my world, if you are new to Kisuke's world, you should know, I have a tendency to use swear words, blood, and gore, as well as have some pretty messed up situations. I never really know how the story will go until after it's written, so you should always be prepared to be FUBAR'd.
This is your *FAIR WARNING*
If this has not deterred you, please read on, and enjoy. ;D
Love,
ஜ۩۞۩ஜ
Kisuke

A/N: (FxM)

Songs in this Chapter:
Your Body Is A Wonderland by John Meyer
The Reason by Hoobastank
Don't Fear the Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult
Monster by Skillet
Sick and Twisted Affair by My Darkest Days
I'm Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
Race You To The Bottom by New Medicine

Chapter 5: Who's that Girl? …

Prologue…

Through him the new king is produced…This was the prophecy foretold by his mother a century before he found himself bound to a mortal Quincy. He already knew he would be the next soul king if for no other reason than he was his sole heir. After he bound himself to Masaki, he was not so sure. It was not like he was bound to her out of love; it was the only thing he as a Shinigami could do to save the life of one mortal woman. It wasn't about whether she was a Quincy or a mortal, he was a soul reaper. That meant he was obligated to protect the human race from the hollow scourge. The woman, if you could even call her that, had protected him, her sworn enemy, and he had to save her from the hollow that was eating away at her soul because of it. He didn't expect he would actually fall in love with the girl/woman, or that their unconventional union would bear fruit. When a son was born to him shortly after making the conscious decision to remain in the world of the living, he finally understood those words uttered by Shiba Miki. But this was not really about Kurosaki Ichigo. It was about a love that was born out of necessity, which turned into the truest form of love he never thought possible….

Before Kurosaki Masaki died nearly 9 years ago, Shiba Isshin found in her the greatest love a being could have with another, that was not a maternal or paternal based love. She was everything to him, and her life was taken, ripped from him, by the very thing that he was supposed to protect humans from. Of course, it wasn't as simple as a hollow attack that removed her from him. It was the will of the Quincy king. Really if not for that, he wouldn't be without his beloved wife. After her death, he was freed from his bondage, and was able to travel back to his father, the Reiō. With a 9 year old son and twin 5 year old girls born to him from his beloved, he could not abandon them to the horrors of the world. He remained, here in the human realm, to guide and protect these children, which were for a lack of a better word, left to fend for themselves. He would guide them, teach them, and protect them until his death in this world of terror, and mysteries. He did not know if the result of his decisions would doom the very children he vowed to protect. He was Kurosaki Isshin former Shiba Isshin, the last male heir to the head of the Shiba clan. Former 10th division squad captain, and according to some, not worthy of his royal status. Including his father, himself. The one who would bring about the next soul king, or the end of the world as they all knew it.

1 week ago…

"Urahara!" Isshin bellowed for the shopkeeper. He stormed through Urahara Kisuke's candy shop, in dread. The former captain walked into the living area where Isshin stood. "Inoue-san just informed me of certain individuals she wants to invite for the wedding," he paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. "She wants my former 3rd seat, Hitsugaya Tōshirō and Lieutenant Matsumoto Rangiku, there."

"I figured as much, considering how close those two individuals have become to her," Kisuke told him. "What do you plan on doing about it?"

"Well I can't very well ask her not to invite them now can I? Not without a just reason for it, and I honestly have none," Isshin said. "It's time, Urahara. Send a Jigokuchō for me. Have the hell butterfly inform them that someone of importance to them needs an audience immediately before the wedding."

Urahara Kisuke knew Isshin's apprehension; they would be one of the few people in all of soul society to know who and what he really was. "No problem brotha, I got this."

With that settled, Isshin felt some relief. He wondered what their reaction would be after all this time away. Would they be warm and welcoming, or cold and distant? He wouldn't blame them if they felt animosity toward him. After all, he did abandon his post, leaving all the work to his protégé and lack witted vice-captain. He left the candy shop to finish up the last of his errands before the imminent reunion to come.

Several hours passed, when Ulquiorra Cifer began thundering his way through out the shop. "What a ridiculous notion! What has gotten into that woman's head!?" he raged. Urahara was attempting to calm the Cero Espada, along with Shiba Isshin. Ulquiorra swerved and ducked the men, trying to keep him from leaving the establishment. "This is nonsense! I have never left that woman's side since I returned, why should I have to leave her for a week!" As he said this, he crashed into someone entering the shop.

"Cifer-san!" called the shopkeeper, but it was too late, Ulquiorra Cifer collided with Matsumoto Rangiku.

"Well, that's the second time today, a man has fallen all over me," she joked from the ground. "But you sir, are marrying my good friend, so you should kindly remove yourself from my person." Rangiku laughed out loud again, as the boy scrambled to his feet and helped her up.

"Where is that no good, soon to be adopted son-in-law of mine!?" bellowed a loud masculine voice from behind Urahara Kisuke. "Boy, don'cha know, when the woman says stay away, you stay away!" from around the corner emerged Shiba Isshin. When he entered the scene, he stopped in his tracks. Kisuke was trying to get Ulquiorra out of the room, while the two other Shinigami's stared at each other, dumbstruck.

"T … Tai … Taichō?" Rangiku spoke softly. Her eyes were wide in shock at the sight before her. There in front of her was the tall, dark haired, very handsome, former Captain of her squad. Then she was grabbed by the large male, and pulled out of the shop. She allowed the man to lure her away; all the while, she just stared at him. When he stopped pulling her, she was able to form her next question. "You're Shiba Taichō! Aren't you!?"

Isshin looked hard at the busty blonde-haired woman, then said, "You're hair is longer since last I saw you, Rangiku. Have your boobs gotten bigger too?"

She formed a fist and lunged for her former superior. He caught her hand easily, "Where the hell have you been!?" Rangiku was still in awe, when she was able to produce words again, however she couldn't stop her tears from falling.

Isshin wrapped his arms around his former subordinate, and held her tightly. "I'm sorry, Rangiku," he told her, and stroked her hair, like he would one of his daughters. "When Inoue-chan mentioned to me, who her friends were that she would invite to her wedding, I knew it was time to confront you and Tōshirō."

She lifted her face from Isshin's shoulder, "You sent the Jigokuchō!" she accused.

"Well, I had someone send it for me, but yeah," he confirmed. "But where is Tōshirō? I thought you guys'd be coming together."

"I had to complete some paper work, as usual," she explained the happenstance of how she came to be there, with a jaded attitude. "But he left long before I did. I actually thought he was coming to see a girl."

"What? Shirō-chan found himself a girl?!" the devious older man had the look of mischievousness about him now. "Do you have a clue as to who she could be?"

"Not really, but there was one girl about a year ago, he showed interest in," she informed her former captain.

"Well, if it's true, we shall both find out huh?" he winked at Rangiku. "But right now I need you to keep my identity quiet for a little while longer. There are certain individuals that don't need to know this right now."

"Of course, Taichō," she affirmed.

"Heh, heh, heh, you're going to have to get used to not calling me that, Rangiku," he laughed. "Well, when you see Shirō-chan, give him the information."

Rangiku nodded her agreement. "Well what should I call you here?" she asked as they walked back into the candy shop.

"Don't you read anything?! The name is Kurosaki Isshin," he told her.

At the sound of the name, Rangiku thought she would fall to the ground again. "Kurosaki!? You're not Kurosaki Ichigo's father!" The man merely winked and smiled at her, then continued on his way. She retrieved her Gigai from Urahara, and left the conflict there for Inoue's apartment.

"Cifer-san!" Isshin bellowed again at the boy. "This is just part of the whole marriage concept and tradition. Ya see, back when people didn't choose their marriage partners, and the father of the bride made the decision. The groom wasn't allowed to see which one of his daughters the groom would end up with," Isshin laughed raucously, when Ulquiorra's eyes widened in terror. "No worries, Cifer-san, you'll be marrying Inoue-chan." Isshin sobered from his jovial manner for an instant, and went right into Ulquiorra's face. They were so close if either man blinked, their eyelashes would touch. "And you will marry her. You no longer have a choice in this matter," Isshin snarled slightly as he whispered to the Cero Espada. He had no issues with the boy, but being that this was his sister Ulquiorra was marrying, Isshin wanted there to be no impropriety about it. Pasting a new fun-loving smile to his lips, Isshin clapped his hand onto Ulquiorra's back and shoulder. "Now, you need to get yourself to bed. Trust me; pretty soon you'll be glad for this small respite from your woman!" He laughed again, but not with as much cheer as everyone was used to.

Isshin arrived home to the sound of bickering, coming from the kitchen. Rounding the corner to investigate the disturbance, he stopped short when he found both his daughters, his son, and his former 3rd seat arguing there. A small smile came to his lips.

"For the last time! He is NOT my boyfriend!" Karin yelled at her siblings.

"Tōshirō, if you lay on finger on my sister, we're gonna find out just how much of a prodigy you really are!" Ichigo seethed, but there was laughter behind his eyes. Ichigo was so much like his father; he didn't even realize it at times.

Hitsugaya Tōshirō rolled his eyes at the Kurosaki children, "For this I could have simply stayed at Inoue-san's," turning he made to leave the kitchen, but caught sight of his former captain, there in the flesh. Matsumoto told him before he came here to the Kurosaki residence, about Kurosaki Isshin.

"Dad, you have never met, Tōshirō," Yuzu sprang into action, making formal introductions for her father.

"Pleasure to meet you, Kurosaki-san," Tōshirō said.

"And you too. My, you're a young one aren't ya! Hahaha!" Isshin laughed. He knew how much Hitsugaya hated being referred to as young, or a kid. Judging from Tōshirō's micro expression; from his lip twitch to his slightly furrowed brow it appeared the former 3rd seat still had a hang-up about it.

Then Yuzu pulled her father down to whisper into his ear. "That's Karin's boyfriend. She won't admit that she likes him, but you can just tell," she giggled and walked off to finish cooking dinner.

With an arched brow, Isshin looked over to Tōshirō and Karin. They were seated at the table next to each other, as they waited for Yuzu. That's when he noticed something he never thought he would see. Both Karin and Tōshirō were smiling! His eyes widened further, as he took his seat and Yuzu began serving the curry she had made tonight, when Karin served Tōshirō! Hitsugaya was smiling and accepted the plate from his daughter! That brought up something that Matsumoto had said to him earlier this evening. "So, I'm curious…," Isshin began, "how and when did you two, meet?"

"Oh, they met about a year ago dad," Yuzu chimed in.

"Thank you very much Yuzu, but I can answer on my own," Karin said sounding irritated. "But yes, I needed another really good soccer player, because some jerks thought they could just take over our court whenever they wanted," Karin was saying through clenched teeth. "Anyway, I met Tōshirō earlier that morning and asked him to help us out, which I'm glad to say he eventually did." Karin smiled again, to the shock of everyone at the table.

"Hmmm, I see," was the only comment to come from Isshin. They ate dinner then, and going off into other subjects as they did. Isshin glanced around the table and took stock of his family, and then his gaze floated to large over-sized wall poster of his wife, Kurosaki Masaki. In times like these, he missed her even more. She would no doubt have a better reaction to the knowledge that one of her little girls was falling in love. And he could not deny that fact, judging just from the way they reacted around each other. Masaki would have come up with some quirk or a witty reply to all this, and while he was big on the joking end of things, he didn't know what to do about Karin and Tōshirō.

When dinner was completed, Isshin pulled Tōshirō over, "Come Shirō-chan, let me show you where you'll be sleeping." Walking across the Kitchen to the living area, Isshin step in front of the loveseat and stopped. "Here ya go, this should be comfortable enough."

"The couch?" Hitsugaya questioned. "You're obviously not worried I might catch a cold."

Isshin let out a loud boisterous laugh, then proceeded to remove the cushions and pulled out a bed from the loveseat, "There Shirō-chan, hahaha, that's where you'll stay." With the girls distracted and Ichigo making his way up to his room, Isshin spoke to Hitsugaya in a low whisper. "I assume that Matsumoto passed along my message."

"Hai Kurosaki-san," Tōshirō replied. "Is there anything you wanted to add to the message, like the reason why you need this kept secret? Other than the significance it would hold for Kurosaki Ichigo and the penalties held by Sou-Taichō, I see no reason to keep the fact that you are alive, hidden."

Letting out a long breath, Isshin looked to his children then answered his former 3rd seat, "Those are all valid enough reasons for this to remain concealed," Isshin closed his eyes before he went on, "There is actually more than just the lives of my children at stake here with this information. And I hardly fear the wrath of Yamamoto Sou-Taichō." Isshin thought for a moment. 'Yea right! Like that old man was any scarier than my dad! "Anyway the truth of it all will come out in its own time, so all I'm asking for is that you keep this suppressed for a while longer." With Tōshirō's nod of agreement, Isshin ventured into other topics.

The week past by quickly, and Isshin was now standing next to Inoue Orihime, about to walk her down the aisle and hand her over to Ulquiorra Cifer. She was such a beauty to behold, in her white feathered gown. Tears were forming in her eyes, so Isshin turned to her then. "Inoue-chan," he said as he blotted her tears away, so as not to ruin her subtle makeup. "You don't cry in this occasion, it's a joyful time. You're about to be married to a man who would give his very life for you."

"I know Kurosaki-san, these are not tears of regret or dread," she explained. "I'm just so excited and happy, I can't contain them." She smiled brightly at the older man. The music started and her wedding march began.

As he walked Orihime down the aisle, his eyes caught sight of someone in the pews. She had short auburn hair, slicked back with a single lock curled forward on her brow, and light brown eyes. She wore a tight blue, very short dress. He shook his head slightly and walked on. The rest of the ceremony passed in a daze for Isshin, as he couldn't get the woman out of his mind. By the time of the reception at the hotel, he was consumed with thoughts of her.

He went to check in his coat and came upon Hitsugaya Tōshirō, and he was staring intently at his daughter Karin. Deciding to play a joke on the young captain, Isshin stepped behind him and slapped him on the back, "Sooooooo, what are your intentions toward my daughter Shirō-chan?" he growled at Hitsugaya.

Tōshirō sputtered, huffed and his cheeks burned. He never liked the feeling of being in a hot environment, and this conversation just veered into an unwanted direction for him. "Kurosaki-san, Karin is a friend to me, and nothing more. The mere idea of anything more with her is ludicrous!" Isshin was shaking his head at Tōshirō, "What?" Isshin pointed behind him and Tōshirō's eyes were locked in on Karin's. "Karin…," Tōshirō whispered.

Through thinned and tense lips, Karin responded to Tōshirō's statement, "Of course it's ludicrous!" she gulped and turned her attention to her father, "I said before that we're just friends, so … so … LEAVE IT ALONE GOATFACE!" she yelled that last bit as she turned from the room, and exited the hall.

"I am completely unfamiliar as to what do to in this situation, Kurosaki-san," Tōshirō said as he turned back to his former captain, with a deep crease at his brows.

"Hitsugaya Taichō," Isshin said then, in a quiet and serene tone. "My daughter is young, I know. Her mother was young in comparison to me as well. But I didn't let that obscure the feelings that came over me. Mind you, Karin has only just crossed into her teenage years, and I don't think she readily understands all the things she is feeling either. You should know at least this one thing… Karin doesn't smile often. She hasn't since her mother died, but I saw her smile wide and bright for the first time in a long time. This week. Think on that," With that, Isshin left Tōshirō in the coat check, alone.

He stood at his table, with the married couple beside him, and the wedding party flanking his sides. Clanking the crystal goblet, he began; "I am sooooooo, happy!" he spoke loudly and unabashedly as tears spilled from his eyes. "I had no idea when I first met Inoue Orihime that I would one day be giving her away at her wedding. But how could I not!? She is like another daughter for me, and I can think of no father, who would miss such an event, if he could!" Isshin was thinking of their shared father the Reiō, who was Soul King. He took their father's place for Orihime, and granted her the finest wedding she could ask for, though Orihime still had no idea of their shared lineage. "So here I stand looking at the most beautiful bride, on her most beautiful day. Congratulations my dear, and well done Ulquiorra, you lucky bastard!" The crowd cheered uproariously at the speech. His gaze once again found its way to the perplexing woman in blue. To his surprise, she was staring at him as well.

Nakamura Izumi could not get over the images that bombarded her mind as she sat staring at the man who gave away the bride today. They made no sense to her, images of him, Kurosaki Isshin smiling. Some of him, with a deep furrow on his brow, as if he was thinking hard. Then other images… far more … intimate. Izumi blushed fiercely at the thoughts taking hold of her mind. She looked up in that moment and found her gaze locked in with his. What was it, in those brown eyes that captivated her? Nakamura should stay just as she was, when these images and thoughts faded, she could mingle. Right now, she knew if she stood, she would make her way directly for the handsome older man. But her partner wouldn't have that, as he asked her to dance.

When Uryū began playing "Your body is a Wonderland," the women rushed to the dance floor. Everyone was now enjoying the music and dancing together on the dance floor. Isshin was first seen dancing with Rangiku. "Rangiku, who is that woman?" he asked her.

"Which woman, Tai … Kurosaki-san?" she corrected herself. He was motioning to the woman that entered with a handsome dark-haired Shinigami. Dressed in a blue halter dress, that barely reached the woman's knees. "That's Nakamura Izumi, dancing with Hisagi Shūhei. She's 7th seat under Zaraki Kenpachi." Isshin held her tightly, as if Rangiku would fly away if he let go. His face was stern, his brows were furrowed harshly, and his lips were thinned. But his eyes, in Isshin's eyes there was a look of dejection and misery.

"She can't stay here," he remarked to Rangiku.

"Huh? What did you mean? She's not bothering anyone!" Rangiku nearly screeched at her former captain. They stopped dancing and merely moved there feet on the dance floor as they argued letting Nakamura stay.

"She is bothering someone! She is bothering me," Isshin said harshly. "You have no idea!" Isshin twirled Rangiku into the arms of Hisagi, and turned to gather his daughter Yuzu to dance, until he finally came around to get a dance with the bride. Nakamura lifted a brow at him, then twisted herself back to a bar, and shot back a cup of a spicy alcoholic beverage. Isshin smiled cheerfully at Orihime, and took her into an easy embrace.

"Thank you so much, Kurosaki-san," Orihime said to the man. "I have never felt happier than I do at this moment." She began to tear up again, "It's truly a wonderful gift that you've given me."

"Inoue-chan, ah, excuse me, hehehe, Cifer-sama," he corrected himself and the girl blushed. "As I told you before, I wouldn't even think to allow, anyone else to try giving this wedding to you." He beamed at the young bride. "Besides its good practice, I have 3 more daughters to give away." He laughed out loud, his eyes landing on his "3rd daughter" Kuchiki Rukia. She was seated at the bridesmaid table with her brother standing watch over her. Byakuya looked like he'd rather be anywhere else besides here. But he was a good brother, and wouldn't have Rukia attend such an event with any low born miscreant. Rukia was looking like she wanted to dance, but Byakuya was rebuffing any males to make an attempt. "I think I'll go ask my lovely other daughter for a dance, would you excuse me Cifer-sama." When he spun her away from him, she was thrust into the arms of Kurosaki Ichigo.

"Rukia-chan! My other daughter, won't you come have a dance with me!?" Isshin's loud voice boomed, startling the Kuchiki siblings.

Byakuya spoke for her, "Rukia will have only one dance with you, and then please see to it that she is returned."

The two men eyed each other, as if they spoke some sort of unseen language. "My son will want a dance later, so I'm sure that won't be an issue." Isshin spoke to Byakuya as if he were a low-born lout, not fit to lick his boots.

Narrowing his eyes at Isshin, he said, "I would expect nothing less from Kurosaki Ichigo. However, see to it that he asks me himself." Isshin lifted Rukia from the seat and had her twirling on the dance floor.

"Nii-sama," she began, "He was acting very strange just now."

"Nah, that was just men talking," Isshin laughed. "I'm pretty sure, Byakuya knows this is a Kurosaki gig and he can't refuse the host. It would be improper."

Rukia was enjoying her dance with Isshin, though he was slightly distracted. Isshin kept glancing around the room, eyeing the woman, Nakamura Izumi. If there was one person who could confirm or deny what he was thinking, it would be Urahara Kisuke. When he spotted the former captain behind the stage, he brought Rukia back to Byakuya. Before he could get to Kisuke, his son was in his face so he quickly spoke with Ichigo.

"Oi dad, why are you so agitated?" he asked. His father had been slightly annoyed since the party started.

"Huh? Oh, ah… nothing, it's nothing," Isshin replied. They stood to hear Ulquiorra's speech, and then he began to sing "The Reason." "Why don't you go dance with Rukia, it'll piss the hell outta Byakuya," Isshin said, then he was sauntering over to the stage.

Isshin came upon Urahara as the goddess of flash left him, "So this is where you've been hiding, eh? Urahara?" Isshin walked to his side. "What's got you all crabby?" he asked of the Geta-Boshi. Kisuke simply shook his head. "Well, since you don't wanna talk about it, there is something I need to tell you." The robust man brought his arm down and around Kisuke's shoulder. "You know I'm sincerely grateful for so many of the things you've done for me," Isshin paused for effect, "But… We have a problem."

Isshin turned the shopkeeper towards the far side of the dance floor. "Wait What? How?!" There standing like a wallflower, was Kurosaki Masaki!

"Two very good questions Urahara!" Isshin informed him. "Matsumoto says her name is Nakamura Izumi. She's a seated officer under the Kenpachi."

"She's Shinigami!" Kisuke began to laugh until the prince glared; Kisuke quieted and did his best to give Isshin an answer. "It's not unheard of for someone like her to become Shinigami after they die. And if that is the case, I doubt very much she even remembers." Urahara now had the biggest grin on his face. "Come on, Shiba-san. I'm going to take my friends' advice and finally have some fun tonight." Isshin like the sound of that.

Isshin rushed the stage after Ulquiorra sung his song, and carted his bride off. Isshin asked Uryū for a specific song, that made the Quincy cringe slightly, but he nodded. The sounds of "Don't Fear The Reaper," sounded through the room. "Oi, Oi, Oi! MORE COW BELL!" Isshin shouted and the room erupted in laughter as Urahara Kisuke jumped to the stage with him. He began banging a spoon and crystal goblet as a mock cow bell. They sang the song together, as Isshin felt relief after what Kisuke said. Yea, there was no way Nakamura could remember being Masaki. And more to the point, she might have been Masaki at one time, but she is not Masaki now.

At the bellow of the man on stage, Nakamura Izumi jumped. His voice was so, loud and obnoxious! But for some reason it didn't seem to matter to her. He was funny, and that seemed to be an endearing quality she never realized she valued before. What surprised her more was, though he wasn't much of a singer, he sang his heart out anyway. Without a care as to what he looked like to other people. He's making fun of himself, before anyone else can! Izumi scowled, where the hell did that thought come from!? She turned her eyes back to the man on stage, the other man seemed important to her as well. She just could not figure out why.

"Nakamura? Nakamura?" Matsumoto yelled at her. "Hey, Nakamura!"

"Oh, Gomen, Matsumoto-sensei," Izumi apologized to busty strawberry-blonde vice-captain. Izumi called her sensei, because over the last few months Rangiku has be teaching her how to behave outside of battle readiness. She didn't bother learning how to act around "normal" people, and especially around members of the opposite sex. She was born in one of the harshest districts in Rukongai, and from an early stage in her life, she only learned how to excel in battle and stay alive. With Rangiku's help, Izumi found the courage to ask Hisagi to this event. She found the young lieutenant handsome and quite funny, and she did have a small crush on him. But Izumi knew full well that Hisagi Shūhei only had eyes for Matsumoto Rangiku, even if Rangiku pretended not to notice.

"Hisagi and I are going to play a drinking game; I wanted to know if you wanted to join?" Rangiku asked, smiling brightly.

"What kind of drinking game?" Izumi asked before she could stop herself. Really, at this point in the night she needed something else to do, besides stare intently at the raucous man on stage right now. Rangiku explained the game to her, and she thought it would be a perfect distraction. "Oh, that sounds like fun." So she sat herself at the table with Hisagi, when the Kuchiki siblings joined them there. Rangiku seemed to then approach the stage and invite the blonde-haired man. He seemed to be eager as he left the stage and joined them at the table too.

"Hmmm, I think we have enough, hahaha." Rangiku said.

Kisuke however made a new suggestion. "I beg to differ, Matsumoto-san, if you want really good sake for this game, and I know I do. We really need to invite, Kurosaki Isshin." He winked at Rangiku, and then added, "I know he gets a good supply of Junmai Daiginjō-shu."

Rangiku's eyes glazed over. "Is it … Koshu?" Kisuke just gave her another wink and pulled his fan over his face. That made her jump for joy. "Yes! Then we must have him join us."

When Isshin finished the song, the group called him over and invited him to join the fun. "Hahaha! Urahara! This was you wasn't it?! You saw the gift of sake I received!" Isshin laughed when Rangiku asked about the sake his father sent to him. "But I have to agree, you can't play this game with just anything!" With that, he thumped the container of sake on the table. His eyes lifted once more to the beautiful 7th seat, as he settled himself into the chair opposite Nakamura Izumi. He didn't know if anyone else could tell, but he was nervous as all hell. Looking into the eyes of his dead wife was extremely unnerving.

"Ok everyone, write down the songs you are willing to sing," Rangiku instructed the group. After everyone did, Rangiku grabbed the hat from Kisuke's head, collected all the strips of paper, and placed them inside. Before everyone could start complaining, she explained, "It wouldn't be much fun, if you knew what song you were going to sing!" Except for Byakuya, the table agreed and laughed. "But to be fair, you can sing the song with the person who picks yours."

She placed the hat in the middle of the table for them all to pick, when they drank their fifth cup. Urahara whispered a few notables about the 28th head of the Kuchiki Clan, "I never … spent more than 24 hours in the company of Zaraki Kenpachi," he said aloud and sure enough, Byakuya was getting well into his cups. Then the table heard the DJ speak.

"Alright, so, you guys enjoying yourselves out there, right?" Uryū asked the crowd. "Most of you know me, and you've been listening to the sounds of 'Quincy: The Legendary DJ'. Well, someone wants to have a go with singing to you all tonight. Kurosaki, let's go man."

Ichigo ran up to the MIC, "Hey everybody!" he yelled out. "So you all know about… well ya know, me," Ichigo joked referring to the hollow half of his soul. "So I wanted to get this one outta the way tonight," he stuck his tongue out and the DJ began the song with a loud guitar riff. The heavy melody was accompanied by a pounding of drums and Ichigo's normally coarse voice matched perfectly with the song he sang, "Monster."

The group at the table was dumbfounded as they listened to the boy sing for the first time. Then they all looked to Isshin, "What?!" he questioned their stare. "We Kurosaki's have the voices of angels!" he declared, as his pride was lifted with every verse the young man on stage sang.

Ichigo went into another song soon after, giving Rangiku another bright idea. "Hmmm, why don't we have Ichigo join too?" The others at the table were weary at first but liked the idea.

"Of course my son can hold his liquor!" Isshin declared at the weary faces at the table. But it was Ichigo's next comment that had the table paying him attention.

"Alright, alright, alright, don't hurt yourselves" Ichigo spoke to the girls that were trying to get at him from the platform. "Imma dedicate this last one, to the freaks planning on a 'Sick and Twisted Affair' tonight." Byakuya lifted a brow at the comment. Hisagi stuttered, Kisuke almost choked on his sake, Isshin burst out laughing, Rangiku giggled, Izumi actually blushed, and Rukia's eyes widened when the table turned to look at her.

"Why is everyone staring at me!?" the petite raven-haired Shinigami squealed, leading the table in another round of laughter. When Ichigo finished his set, Rangiku called him over.

After asking him to join, and explaining the game to him, he looked at all the faces present at the table. He looked like he was just about to decline when his eyes landed on one person. "Alright, I'll give it a whirl." With that, the game commenced adding four more players to the mix, Tatsuki, Uryū, Sado and Renji.

Byakuya had finally reached his 5th cup; he reached into the hat and pulled out the strip of paper. "'I'm Sexy and I know It'? What kind of song is that?" Byakuya questioned.

"It's a song…about me," Isshin announced as he stood up. As part of the game, if your song came up you could sing along as a duet if you wanted too. Isshin not only wanted to, he needed the time away from the table as unwanted memories began circling his head. He stood next to the 6th division captain, "Let's go Kuchiki-san, this will be fun!" Uryū started the karaoke for the men. Letting his inhibitions go, he let the song take him away, and he leapt and danced on the stage. Rotating and thrusting his hips to the beat.

"Byakuya-bo! You're doing it wrong!" Kisuke yelled from the table. Because of Byakuya's refusal to dance, Isshin yelled to Urahara to do the dancing for him.

"Urahaaaarraaaa! Get up here and show this youngster how to wiggle!" Isshin yelled into the MIC. The table watched in shocked awe as Kisuke stood from his chair and leapt to the stage. Both males turned in rhythmic circles, and they actually shook their rears at the crowd. Both men were laughing boisterously as they ended the song and came back to the table.

"I never… spent more time in the human realm then was requested of me," Rangiku said. Seems she was trying to get back at Isshin as well as get Byakuya drunk.

Isshin gave a disparaged glare at his former lieutenant, and took a quick swing of his sake. This being his 5th cup it was his turn to pick a song. "Race You To The Bottom," Hahaha! Sounds like a song for you, eh? Matsumoto?" with that jab at Rangiku the table erupted into a fit of laughter and agreement. Hisagi stood laughing at Isshin's comment until Rangiku stared daggers at him. He left the table for the stage to sing his song with the man who picked it, Kurosaki Isshin.

A/N: Songs mentioned in this fic, are the sole property of their respective owners.