AN: Thanks muchly to ctofi1 for reviewing. Getting back to the main story now. Credit to T Kubo for giving me such great chars to play with. Mistakes all mine and happy reading!
Chapter 3 – At the Kuchiki Manor
Byakuya felt sick after hearing Ichigo's story as he walked quickly to the kitchen to find the chibi and the others. As he neared he heard a grief-stricken yelp from his brother. Byakuya sprinted the rest of the way skidding to a halt at the entrance of the kitchen as Ichigo yelled at his twin.
"I TOLD YOU NOT TO EAT ANYMORE!"
Ichigo's little face was reddened as he held a bowl of strawberries. Senbonzakura was clutching his knee feigning injury hoping around the kitchen.
"Ichigo, are you ok?" his usual mask of apathy nowhere in sight as he approached the boy and knelt in front of him, with concern evident in his tone.
Rukia, Renji and Senbonzakura jaws all hit the floor at Byakuya's entrance. It was like Byakuya had been replaced with an actual person since the chibi arrived.
"I'm fine Kuuchi-san, but um twinKuuchi-san was gonna eat em all. I saved them for you. Aba-san ate your bananas though, sorry." He turned and pointed to Renji, who jumped behind Rukia expecting a glare from Byakuya.
"Don't worry Ichigo, monkeys just really like bananas." He smirked when Renji popped his face out behind Rukia, surprised at the joke at his expense.
"Anyway, you eat the rest of those strawberries. I need to talk to you for a bit before dinner though. Come." He held out his hand and Ichigo took it.
"Oi, Byakuya what's …?" He glared at his brother who put his leg down and stopped talking.
Byakuya led them outside to the porch. He still wasn't sure how to talk to Ichigo any better than earlier. His steel grey eyes downcast as he tried to think of where he should start.
"Kuuchi-san, are you ok?" Ichigo's eyes looked to Byakuya with concern.
The boy had hoped down from his seat to stand in front of Byakuya now.
"Ichigo, I'm ok. It's me who should be asking you that don't you think?" Byakuya could feel his tears threatening again as he looked at the brave chibi before him.
"But you look sadder than me right now." Ichigo whispered looking away from Byakuya.
"Ichigo… h-how would you feel about staying with us for a while?" Big tawny eyes looked to Byakuya with a flash of confusion.
"I know… I know what you've been through the past few weeks, but no one here will ask you to talk about it, unless you want that." He knew from experience no one would force anything from the boy.
"We'll… I-I'll keep you safe Ichigo!"
The boy gasped and tears fell from his big brown eyes as he launched himself at Byakuya hugging him and sobbing loudly.
"You a-are m-my fairy god-moth-er." Ichigo struggled to get the sentence out between sobs.
Aware of his healing injuries Byakuya held him gently but firmly to his own chest. His own tears surfacing and falling slowly onto Ichigo's head as the boy cried against him, a little hand clutching onto Byakuya's hair.
"Shhhh." Byakuya's voiced whispered as his own hand petted Ichigo's orange soft downy locks, oblivious to how the child in his arms was so deeply affected by the his offer to keep him safe.
Unbeknown to Byakuya and Ichigo several other eyes were being dabbed at the sight before them, before Soujun ushered them back to the dining room.
"So, you heard Byakuya. Ichigo is staying with us. The boy is not to be questioned on anything regarding his parents or his injuries. I'll inform the staff. Ota-san, did you call the bureau?"
"Yes, there's more to the story than the reports in the news. Kisuke is coming over after dinner to fill us in."
"I can't believe that little chibi has been through all that. Chi-Chi, Nii-sama's reaction is…?" Rukia regarded Soujun, her bright lavender eyes hopeful.
"Yes, it's a miracle for Byakuya, but to come at the expense of Ichigo's tragedy. It's very unfair. But life rarely is."
They all sat mulling things over for a few minutes before the staff came in and started placing the dishes of food on the table.
"I'll go get Bya." Senbonzakura rose gracefully and left to call Ichigo and Byakuya.
"Oi, Bya, oh there ya are. Hey shrimp?" Sen knelt down before Ichigo as he met them walking towards the dining room.
"I'm not a shrimp twinKuuchi-san!" Ichigo crossed his arms across his chest and stomped his foot glaring away from Senbonzakura.
"Alright, alright! Look just call me Sen, Oi Ichigo look at me." He could feel Byakuya starting to get angry at this interruption.
"So Ichigo, look I'm sorry I tried to eat Byakuya's strawberries before and upset you."
"Uhh, I think its ok, cos Kuuchi-san let me eat them anyway." Ichigo looked up at Byakuya who just looked at him and smiled a little smile.
"Just call him Bya. There's too many Kuchiki's we'll all get confused if you say that all the time." He smiled a big bright smile to Ichigo who wasn't convinced on the name and looked to Byakuya.
"It's up to you Ichigo." Byakuya stated, thinking it didn't matter what Ichigo called him.
"Ok, I'll think about it Sen-san."
Not really knowing what a fairy godmother was supposed to do, after a reasonably relaxed dinner with his family he thought Ichigo might like to have a shower or bath and get ready for bed.
Ichigo opted for a bath and was currently splashing around in the giant spa sized tub that the twins had, commenting on it being like a pool.
He asked one of the staff to see if there was any of his or Senbonzakura's old clothes still stashed away and got them to prepare his art room for Ichigo. It was an adjoining room to his own and across from his and Senbonzakura's shared bathroom.
"Uhh Kuuchi-san? Are you out there?" A worried voice rang out from inside the bathroom.
"Yes Ichigo. What's wrong?" Byakuya asked from the other side of the door. He didn't want to barge in on him in the bath.
"Umm, kekkk, the water! The water's frothing up too much and its ahhh!"
Byakuya peeked through the door. Holy shit! There were bubbles filling the room rapidly as the jets circulated in the spa. Ichigo must have knocked the entire bottle of bubblebath into it by accident.
"Erm, I can't even see you Ichigo. Are you still there?"
"Where else would I be?" A little giggle rang out from the direction of the tub before it was quickly stifled.
"I'm really sorry about this Kuuchi-san. I didn't mean to make a mess." A timid voice rang out.
"Don't worry. It happens more often than you'd think." He laughed a little when he realised that he, Senbonzakura and Rukia had all had a similar experience.
He tried to pick his way through to Ichigo without slipping and when he was almost at the tub he spotted Ichigo looking up at him with worry. He went to lean forward to shut off the jets on the spa when his foot caught something on the floor (something resembling a small lion plushie) and he lost his balance. His eyes widened as he saw the water approaching.
He floundered in the tub for a bit before he righted himself hoping he hadn't landed on Ichigo. He turned to find the small boy with his hands clasped to his mouth, shaking, with tears at the corners of his eyes. His face seemed to be getting redder by the second.
"Ichigo are you ok? I uhh, sorry umm." Byakuya wondered if he was in pain from the look on his face.
"Bahahhahahahahaha uhhha ahahahahaahhhh oo ow ow ow!" Ichigo clearly wasn't hurt from Byakuya's fall into the tub, but the laughter that he'd been trying to hold in had started to hurt his chest as it bellowed out.
"Byakuya, Ichigo? What on earth?!" Soujun called from the door.
"Chi-Chi?" Byakuya ungracefully hauled himself out of the bath, turning the jets off as he rose.
"It's my fault Kuuchi-san. Byakuya fell in the bath coming in to help cos I called cos of the bubbles! They won't stop, I'm sorry Kuuchi-san I'll clean it up if I can make them stop!"
"Oh chibi, do not worry yourself. All my children seem to do this. It must be a tradition." Soujun laughed at the door. "Although, Byakuya are you setting new one's falling into the tub?
Byakuya appeared before at the door then. His clothes and hair soaking wet, bubbles sticking to his hair. His face was trying hard to form a look of indifference but for the life of him he couldn't get it to stick. Ichigo was behind him as well dwarfed in a white fluffy adults robe.
"Ohh Bya-kun, that's a new look for you hmm?" Kisuke popped his head over Soujun's shoulder, and then spoke to Ichigo kneeling down in front of him. "Are you alright Ichi-kun? Bya-kun, he's funny isn't he?" He pointed up to Byakuya, who was still trying hard to find his apathetic expression.
Ichigo looked up to Byakuya and noticed his face kept making funny looks.
"Err hello Ura-san, hang on a sec." He ran back into the bubbles quickly trying hard not to trip in the giant robe before he re-emerged with the towel he hadn't used and handed it to Byakuya.
"Here Kuuchi-san." Byakuya looked down at him and smiled warmly finding it much easier to express happiness than indifference.
"Thanks Ichigo. Umm I should go get changed. Chi-Chi, Urahara-san, Ichigo needs to get changed too." Byakuya guided Ichigo to his rooms and noted the staff had set up his futon and some clothes for him. Urahara had also brought Ichigo's suitcase.
"Ok, we'll wait here. Call us when you're both decent." Soujun called after them.
"Soujun, the boy looks radiant. And that laughter, Yoruichi said he was teary and solitary yesterday after they came back from the cemetery. It's a different boy to the one I've seen these past weeks." Kisuke's hand was grasping Soujun's forearm, shock and awe in his usually amused look.
"Really? He's only cried once so far. When Byakuya asked him to stay earlier… They both clung to each other crying in comfort though. And he called Byakuya his fairy godmother. But…" Soujun's voice turned menacing as he rounded on Kisuke.
"Byakuya has advised Ichigo NOONE is to question him about what has happened to him. That extends to you Kisuke. Under this roof he is to not be traumatised!" Soujun levelled a glare at Kisuke that could rival his sons'.
"Tch, calm down Sou-sou. I get it. But I still need to check his injuries and show you both how to look after them, as well as check he is completely ok here. For all I know, you kidnapped the boy from us. I know you haven't but you need to humour me for a second." The blonde did not sound amused as he returned his own serious gaze to Soujun.
"Understandable, even if completely offensive Kisuke." His hand flipping out dismissing the comment from Kisuke.
"Are you decent Bya-kun?" he called to his son, before walking in anyway.
"Where's Ichigo?"
"I asked for the art room to be set up for him." Byakuya stated flatly trying to dry his hair now that he was in black silk pyjamas.
They knocked and heard Ichigo tell them to come in. He'd put a pair of Byakuya's old flanellete pj pants on that were a little long for him, but hadn't gotten around to his top half. Instead he was staring at the pictures hanging on the walls, on the desks or resting against the walls at floor level. Landscapes, flowers, portraits, all sketches done in pencils. The little chibi was holding one of Soujun.
"You look so much alike…" he voiced quietly.
Kisuke was the first to move into the room.
He sat on the floor behind Ichigo. "Ichigo, I need to check that you are ok. Soujun, Bya-kun, a moment please." He noted Byakuya's brow arching as well as the glare as the elder Kuchiki steered Byakuya out of the room as Ichigo turned to face Urahara-san.
"You made Kuuchi-san angry. Why?" Ichigo had seen the glare. His eyes narrowed and his hands crossed over his chest.
"Ooh you noticed hmm. Bya-kushi is not generally known for being a happy person Ichigo. Before today, he never smiled, or laughed, or made jokes. His face looked like this – Urahara mad an exaggerated sad looking sour face – and he would never hug anyone." Ichigo looked thoughtful as Urahara inspected his chest wound, turning when asked so Urahara could check the exit wound. Both looked good under the second skin patches still firmly stuck in place.
"He did look sad when I met him earlier. Ura-san can I tell you a secret about Kuuchi-san?" His face beamed.
In Kisuke's line of work the word "secrets" when children and angsty teenagers were involved had often never gone well together. This caused the blonde detective to cringe slightly. However the child before him now was not the same child he'd been keeping an eye on over the last few weeks, so he was certain he didn't need to jump to conclusions.
"Of course, but first. Can I ask you two questions?" Ichigo nodded slowly.
"Do you want to stay here with the Kuchiki's? With Byakuya just in there?" He pointed to the door.
"Of course I do silly." Ichigo's chubby cheeks and big brown eyes were bobbing up and down as he nodded happily.
"Ok, second question. Did something happen at Yoruichi's yesterday?" The boy stiffened. The happiness drained from his face.
"Kuuchi-san said I didn't have to talk about that if I didn't want to!" Ichigo cried out.
The door flew open, Soujun trying in vain to stop Byakuya.
"Ichigo!" Orange flew across the room into Byakuya who caught him and picked him up glaring at Kisuke, before turning and leaving his own room.
"Crap you still don't have a nightshirt on." Byakuya voiced noticing Ichigo was clinging to him shaking but not crying.
"Sen, you decent?" He knocked before walking in.
Senbonzakura was still downstairs so Byakuya walked over to the drawers and found a Seireitei Academy t-shirt. He was pulling it over Ichigo's head as Soujun found them.
"I'm sorry about that Ichigo. I had asked Kisuke to refrain from that, but he never listens."
"It's ok Kuuchi-sa… oh this is confusing." Ichigo looked up to Byakuya frowning a little.
Happy that there was no lasting sadness from Ichigo, Byakuya spoke quietly to him understanding the frown.
"Why don't you call my father Ojii-san Ichigo? And if you want you can call Sen as you did earlier with Sen-san or just Sen. And if you like you can keep calling me "Kuuchi"-san, or Byakuya, Bya-san. You pick."
"What about Bya-kushi?" he looked up with a small smile.
"Tch, who told you that one?" He frowned as Ichigo giggled as he pointed to Urahara-san.
"Oh, Kuuchi-san I forgot to tell Ura-san my secret. And then I'd better go to bed." Ichigo ran to Urahara and pulled him down to the hall a bit before tugging him down to reach to his ear and whisper his secret.
Soujun and Byakuya watched as the blonde detective's eyes flashed with concern before his face cracked up and he was trying hard not to hold in his laughter. He was snickering as he shook his head.
"Ok, Ichigo. Thank you for that. You are certainly happier here. Yoruichi will be sad you're not coming back, but will you visit them soon with Bya-kushi and Soujun?" He leered to Byakuya who pointedly ignored him looking at something on the floor.
"No, I can't go back!" His little hands had come to rest on Urahara's shoulders before he spoke as seriously as he could.
"Ura-san, was everyone ok after I left yesterday?" He looked into Urahara's eyes noting they were grey like Byakuya's but didn't shine the same.
"Yes Ichigo, apart from being worried about you chibi."
"A man came … he didn't hurt anyone after I left…?"
"A man… do you mean… Sousuke Aizen?"
Ichigo froze in front of him. Aizen was the last thing he's heard his father say…
Ichigo's face fell just as thoughts of that night flashed before him. His voice… The noises... The pain... His Kaa-san unmoving... The small boy would have collapsed to the floor if Byakuya hadn't swept him into his arms again, as Urahara knelt stunned watching a mini-implosion in front of him.
"Urahara!" Byakuya's deep baritone was livid.
"That's twice you've upset him. I promised I'd keep him safe. You're making me fucking angry when I keep breaking that promise!" Rage rolled off him around the small unconscious boy in his arms to wash over the blonde detective.
"Byakuya!" Soujun had never heard Byakuya so incensed but still that was no way to speak to a friend and definitely not a detective.
"No, its fine." I hand went up to silence Soujun as Kisuke stood up to stare down at the angry teen. "Byakuya, Aizen was at the orphanage yesterday asking after Ichigo, saying he was a family member on Masaki's side, Ichigo's mother. He's not... Ichigo has no known relatives on Masaki's side. She told me that herself once. But… I'm not the enemy Byakuya. I just need information from the boy. We knew he saw something, but he's only just started talking again in the last couple of days. Truthfully since you came along and answered his fairy godmother call have I seen any happiness from him. You will keep him safe. You are doing that already. I'll email you a picture of Aizen, Soujun. Until we know more, please, don't let Ichigo out of your sight."
Urahara walked past Soujun who followed him down the hallway, nodding to his son.
"I must talk to Ginrei before I go, but I really need to get back to the station and put out alerts…" Kisuke's mind was racing as he tried to go over the information he knew about Sousuke Aizen.
Byakuya gulped as he looked down at the sleeping cherub in his arms. He'd been through so much… Byakuya still didn't understand where this protectiveness was coming from. But he had made a promise to Ichigo and knew he had his families support to keep the boy away from the harshness of the reality he now faced having had both loving parents stolen from him in such a terrible way.
Byakuya walked into the art room and tucked Ichigo into his futon.
"I will keep you safe Ichigo." Byakuya whispered as he stood. Turning to leave his eye caught sight of a small photo sticking out from behind the picture of Soujun that Ichigo had held earlier...
Brief Byakuya flashback
The wind was loud but the noise from the waves constantly attacking the rocks just a few feet below him was even louder.
"Kaa-san… Kaa-san… say something… please…" A strangled voice croaks out between tears as his small pale hand gently shakes the shoulder of a young woman.
"Kaa-san… I'm sorry we fell."
"I'm sorry… I won't run off again I promise…Kaa-san?"
"Kaa-san… I'm scared… It's time to wake up now… I'm cold… KAA-SAN WAKE UP!"
"Kuuchi-san! WAKE UP!" Byakuya stirs as a worried childlike voice rings in his hears. He feels a lump of warmth at his side, a hand clutching tight to a tress of his hair and a little fist hitting against chest.
"Kuuchi-san, you scared me. I didn't know what was wrong. I woke up and saw you standing by the door looking at something and then you just fell over and you wouldn't wake up and I thought you were dy-" Ichigo looked like he was on the verge of tears himself, his chubby cheeks flushed red, a worrisome look in his big tawny eyes.
"I-I'm not – listen I'm ok now. I didn't mean to worry you ok." He crawled over to Ichigo's futon sitting cross-legged with his back against it.
Ichigo followed but sat on the bed behind Byakuya still not sure his fairy godmother was ok. He'd heard Byakuya calling for his own mother while he was lying on the floor, and Ichigo was again reminded of how sad his fairy godmother could be, and he didn't like it.
"Umm, Kuuchi-san, can I read you a bed-time story?" Byakuya turned to see Ichigo trying to distract him with his chubby cheeks and a big grin that appeared out of nowhere.
"Ehh, don't I look a bit old for bedtime stories?" Byakuya's eyes narrowed as he couldn't contain his own smile either.
"Well, you're never too old for …" The chibi's gaze narrowed mischievously as Byakuya watched him shift his position before he pounced and pushed Byakuya onto his stomach on the floor.
"Waaa - ahahah - stop - ahahaa - I'll no don't – ahaha –" Byakuya had not been made to suffer through a tickle attack for over 10 years and had completely forgotten how frustrating and happy and mostly uncomfortable, but happy something so innocent could be.
"Ahaha! Bya-kushi likes tickles! Muwahahah!" Ichigo was giggling like a madman as well, his tiny hand tickling Byakuya's underarms from his perch on top of his back.
"You'll pay for ahahah – Ichi – please ahaha stop ahha!"
CLICK CLICK CLICK
"Ohh that one's so gonna be our Christmas card this year!"
"Senbonzakura!"
Ichigo bounced back onto his bed as Byakuya suddenly lurched upwards, nodding to Ichigo as he sprinted after his brother.
Ichigo decided he quite liked a fun fairy godmother so he took off running after them both yelling to Byakuya.
"Ima get you Bya-kushi! More tickles for you!"
"Sen get back here!"
"Ohh, what's wrong Bya-kushi! Are you really running to get me or are you scared of the little chibi tickling you again?"
Soujun, Ginrei and Kisuke had stopped talking as the sound of laughter and running came towards them. Rukia and Renji had paused there PS3 game of Bleach: Soul Resurrección to come into the foyer as howling laughter, growling and childlike laughter barrelled towards them.
"Here Nee-chan! Hide this!" Sen handed Rukia his camera before turning and facing his scary twin.
Rukia knowing all too well she should hand the camera over to Byakuya decided to step behind Renji instead and watch the scene unfold.
"Tsk, Bya-san, you should be more worried about what's behind you than me." Sen was laughing at Byakuya who had stalked up to him.
"Huh, give me the oof - ahahaha - NO not again ahahahah!"
"Got you Kuuchi-san!" Ichigo had literally clambered up Byakuya's back and was tickling him furiously, causing him to topple forward into Senbonzakura's laughing grasp.
CLICK CLICK CLICK
"Chi-Chi! Ahahah – stop them! AHAH – Ichigo no ahaha!"
Soujun was bursting at the seams, as was the rest of the family at the assault on his son, from the little orange haired chibi. After grabbing the camera from Rukia he was frantically snapping as many pictures of the trio laughing as he could.
"Ok, Ichigo I'm not sure how much more Byakuya can take." Soujun thought he'd better intercede after a few more seconds of Byakuya's anguished calling to him for help.
Soujun handed Rukia the camera and told her to quickly download the pics and get them saved in a few places before Byakuya tried to delete them. She grabbed Renji's hand and they scarpered off grinning like madmen.
Byakuya was still trying to regain his breath as Senbonzakura stood him up straight and grabbed Ichigo to set him down.
"Oh my, Ichigo, you don't even know how thankful I am you found my son." The Elder Kuchiki had come over to Ichigo and was ruffling his orange locks.
"Ojii-san?" "Chi-Chi?" Two sets of eyes confused eyes looked up to Soujun, who just beamed back at them. Senbonzakura was smirking at his clueless twin.
"Anyway, its chibi's bedtimes I'm sure but this old man feels like reading a story. Shall we go find something for you Ichigo?"
"Can Kuuchi-san and Sen-san come listen too Ojii-san?"
"Chi-Chi what about us?" Rukia and Renji came running back down the hall.
"Alright, all my family to the library!" Soujun might be the head of the most prestigious branch of Noble clans in Seireitei and surrounding Karakura Town, but he was a big kid with a big love for family at heart.
Kisuke and Ginrei watched in amusement as Soujun lead the way. He looked very much like a mother duck with an odd collection of ducklings following after him, all looking happy except for Byakuya who just looked surprised as he was willingly pulled down the hall by the small orange-haired chibi.