A/N: I'm back! Glad to see me? Yeah, it took me a while to get the sequel up, but I'm finally on Winter Break and my muse has returned. So here's Bleach: The Brotherhood! Yes, the title is a play on Full Metal Alchemist. Enjoy!
Byakuya, naturally, was dutifully completing paperwork in the office of the Sixth Division. No surprises there. It was exactly one week since Rukia's promotion party, and of course he was already worried out of his mind. It seemed like every time an alarm rang, his thoughts immediately jumped to his sister- if she was injured, or if her squad was in danger. He had taken to watching the activities of Ukitake's division far more carefully than he had in the past. To say that he was anxious would be a gross understatement. More like on the brink of another mental breakdown.
Byakuya was on one of his worry streaks when Ichigo- yes, that Kurosaki brat of all people- came bursting into his office. It seemed like people had been doing that a lot lately. Needless to say, Byakuya was not pleased. A rather tense dialogue ensued.
"BYAKUYA!" Ichigo began with his typical conversation starter.
"Kurosaki, how many times must I remind you to refer to me as-"
"Yeah, yeah. Look, I have a big problem!"
"And you don't think I have problems of my own to deal with? I'm still recovering from nervous exhaustion, thanks to you and your friends. "
"Just listen! Karin wants to be a Shinigami! You have this obsessive older brother thing down to a science, right? What do I do?!" Ichigo finally shouted all in one breath.
That was unexpected. After consideration, Byakuya decided it was at least worth an explanation, and gave the substitute Shinigami a look to continue.
"Well, she's known what I am for a while, and that one time she met Toshiro during soccer practice didn't help. She was curious, naturally. And then my dad had to go and be all encouraging-" here Ichigo groaned. He hadn't quite gotten over finding out the truth about Isshin. "I mean, he's all for it! What psycho lets his eleven year old daughter play death god?"
Byakuya, despite going through the same grief with Rukia for years, failed to see the problem. "As always, Kurosaki, you show a shocking disrespect for your elders. Perhaps for once, you could at least attempt to listen to your father. This seems like nothing more than overreaction-"
"This is no time to be a hypocrite! She's my sister! I'm supposed to protect her from Hollows, not let her go off trying to kill them herself! And my dad, just standing there allowing it!" Ichigo shook his head in utter disbelief. Byakuya could begin to see his point. As much as he loathed the idea, maybe Yoruichi was right. He was more like the Kurosaki brat than he cared to admit.
"Alright, Kurosaki, I'll hear you out. How are you planning to proceed with this problem of yours, and just how am I involved?" Byakuya asked skeptically. Ichigo, surprised yet relieved at being allowed to speak, continued his explanation.
"Well, I was thinking we could form an… alliance of some kind," he suggested. "You know, since you're so worried about your younger sister, and me about mine. We could agree to mutually look after each other's sisters, thus decreasing the stress level all around. Which you could really use, to be honest," Ichigo finished on a hopeful note. Byakuya was silent for a few moments.
"How do I know this isn't another trick you're using to get closer to Rukia?" Byakuya demanded. There had been plenty of those in the past, after all.
"It isn't, I swear! Come on, man, I'm desperate!" Ichigo pleaded. He appeared sincere enough. Byakuya sighed. Even he had to admit, it was a good plan. Better than what he thought that punk was capable of.
"Fine. I suppose I'll look into it," Byakuya finally consented, ignoring the lack of respect for once. Ichigo brightened immediately.
"Really?" he said. The dark haired man nodded. They shook on it. Thus, the anxiety fest began.
A/N: It makes sense, doesn't it? They're both insanely over protective, so when you put them together, you get… The Alliance of Insanely to the Point of Stupidity Over Protective Older Brothers! Or something along those lines… *sweatdrop* I don't own Bleach. If I did, Aizen and Wonderweiss would both be long dead.