Ichigo sat there, at the base of the Great Stone Dragon, slowly looking more like a drowned cat by the minute. He watched his parents enter their bedroom through the window. Isshin grabbed Masaki's hand but she turned away and walk out of sight. His father looked devastated but blew out the light and it goes dark. Ichigo gathered his resolve, he needed to do this. To protect his family
Quickly he walked up the stairs to the temple, lit an incense stick and left it in its holder. He bowed and then left. Sneaking into his parents' room he picked up the conscription notice on his father's nightstand and left the flower comb in its place. He looked once more at his mother's light snoring figure and Isshin's drooling one before he walked out. In the armory he opened the cabinet which held the armor. Using his father's sword he sliced though his hair, leaving it a short spiky mess. He made quick work of the armor and placed the sword in the scabbard draped over his shoulder.
Leaving the house he walked to the stable. The wind took hold of the door as he opened it causing a deafening bang. Zangetsu looked at him, nodding in approval. The horse took the boy, leading him to the ground. Ichigo allowed himself one last look at the house before he sat up on Zangetsu and rode though the gate towards the camp.
Kisuke woke up with a start. Something was wrong. He ran into Isshin's and Masaki's room. In his hurry he even forgot his hat.
"Ichigo is gone!"
"What?" said Isshin groggy. "It can't be." He looked at his night stand, the flower comb now lying there innocently. Terror now filling his chest he ran the armor cabinet but finds it empty. His son is gone. He rushed to the court yard.
"ICHIGO!" He saw only the gates that swung in the wind. His leg injury made itself known and he tumbled to the ground. Masaki hurried to her husband's side kneeling down beside him.
"You must go after him. He could be killed!" she ushered.
Isshin only shook his head.
"If I reveal him, he will be."
They hugged, seeking comfort in each other's arms.
Kiskuke watched the couple in front of him. His own grief squeezing his heart.
"Ancestors, hear out prayer: Watch over Ichigo."
Isshin and Masaki looked at him.
"What?"
"You are not wearing your hat"
"Oh..."
A gust of air blew out the incense Ichigo had lit in the family temple. The center grave stone's writing began to glow. The spirit of the First Ancestor came forward. His long white hair flowed around him as he gently rested in the air.
"Rukia, awaken" he said tenderly. "Rukia dear, time to wake up."
The incense holder starts to come to life and grew into a short girl with shoulder-length black hair. She quickly bowed one fist and one knee on the ground.
"Good evening Lord Ukitake, Sir!" she said eagerly. "Tell me what mortal needs my protection and I'm there!"
"Oh, I do not think that will be necessary, Rukia. Just wake the other ancestors if you would be so kind."
Rukia looked a bit dampen when she took the gong and held it over her head.
"Spirits I call thou fourth. Hear my plea and re-enter the world once again. I -"
"Rukia, the enchantment is not needed."
"But it sets the mood" she used the puppy pout.
"Just ring it please."
"Sir!" and she hit it.
The rest of the grave stones in the temple started to glow and the rest of the ancestors awakened for the meeting.
"I knew it! I knew it! The Enchiladas have gone bad! We should have eaten it when we had the time!" said a uniquely dressed man with short dreads.
"Don, the meeting is about Ichigo and his recent "brilliant" idea of becoming a warrior", a well endowed woman with one arm said.
"Don't look at me, Koukaku *hick* I think the boy should loosen up and this might do it." A highly intoxicated brown haired man in a pink robe burped out.
"Oh, yes, right or just punch him really hard," she replied and took a mouthful of Shunsui's spirit. (His drink, not himself…) "Oooh, good stuff!"
"ANYHOW, I believe he is only trying to help his father" interrupted a young white-haired boy, his sea colored eyes blazing.
Popping out of thin air pencil thin young man objected:
"But, if he is discovered, Isshin will be forever shamed. Dishonor will come to the family. Traditional values will disintegrate. Quincys will never get the respect they deserve!"
"Not to mention they'll lose the wine cellar *ahem* the house!" injected Shunsui
"My children never caused such trouble. They all became mediums," said Don twining his mustache.
"Well, we can't all be mediums!" griped Ishida pushing his glasses up with his middle finger.
"No, your great grandson had to be a cross-dresser!" yelled Koukaku.
They all jumped at each other's throats. Ukitake sighed.
"Rukia, go and wake the Great Stone Dragon, I think this might take a while." The two of them just looked at the full blown brawl in front of them. She bowed and left the temple.
In the garden she spotted the same stone dragon Ichigo was sitting by the night before.
Okay now Rukia. You can do this! First assignment as an assistant spirit guardian here I come! Fight-O! She threw her hand forward and pulled it back to her chest in a fist á la Yankumi-style. Pepped she walked up to it hitting her gong hard.
"Yo, wake up! You go to get Ichigo!"
She paused, nothing happened.
"C'mon boy, go get him!"
"…."
"Em, hello"
"….."
"!"
Tiring she kicked its butt. It crumbed leaving only the head.
"Uh oh"
"Crap, they're gonna kill me!"
"Great Stone Dragon, have you awaked" Ukitake called out through the temple window.
Think Rukia, think! Grabbing hold of the dragon's head she held it over the shrubbery herself hiding behind it.
"Uuuuh, yes, I just woke up," she faked a bass voice. "I am the Great Stone Dragon. Good morning! I will go forth and fetch Ichigo. Did… did I mention I was the Great Stone Dragon?"
"Go, the fate of the Kurosaki family rests in your claws," said Ukitake.
"Don't even worry about it. I will not lose face."
And with that said she promptly dropped the dragonhead down the hill hitting a Ming vase on its way down.
"Oops… Now what? I'm doomed! And all because dom-wannabe decides to take his little drag show on the road."
The lucky cricket that had followed Ichigo jumped up on Rukia's shoulder.
"Chirp, chirp."
"Go get him? What's the matter with you? After this stone mess, I'd have to bring him home with a medal to get back into the temple! Wait a minute, that's it! I make Ichigo a war hero and they'll be bowing down to me! I'll be made a guardian for sure!" She sprinted off towards the camp.
I must say, I thought I wouldn't be such an attention whore but I really Love all ya comments. It makes misa so happi! Someone actually liked something I wrote *cries* I was gonna to update every day but I actually had to work… at work! Don't look at me like that, I usually work from home. My uniform is my pajamas. Envy me!
Shrubbery, such a great word. Monty python anyone? I think I'll add it to my favorite word-list. So far I have monocle, poncho and constipation…. Anyhoo, feel updated!
