Silver: Sorry this took so long, I lost my meds and couldn't focus long enough to finish this quickly.
Pansy: You didn't lose them, you just kept forgetting to take them.
Silver: Isn't it the same thing? And if you knew then why didn't you remind me?
Pansy: *sighs* I did, I just didn't find out until recently. Really, sometimes I feel like I'm taking care of a little kid.
Silver: Waaahhhh! Pansy that's mean.
Pansy: *groans* Whatever. Silver doesn't own Bleach or any of it's characters. Hopefully she'll have calmed down by time this is over.
"Hey Yuzu," he said softly, "I'm home."
The poor girl literally stood there shocked for a moment. And then she threw herself into the arms of the older brother she hadn't seen in six years, crying her eyes out begging him never to leave so suddenly again. The commotion at the front door inevitably drew the attention of the other two members of the household, and soon Ichigo was dragged inside, the door just managing to be shut. Isshin, who normally would already be sprawled on the ground from a well placed kick by Karin, was allowed to join the reunion. Karin even allowed herself to take part in the hug Yuzu had started, though she didn't cry. Ichigo returned the affection to his family just as enthusiastically. He loved his sisters and father more than anything and that night he'd been forced to part with them was the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Isshin had tried to support his family of four the best that he could, but no matter what it had never been enough. After several months of trying, he'd eventually forced himself to realize he had to start doing something different if he wanted his kids to grow up normally, or, at least as normal as things could get for a family that had recently lost a member. He'd gone through every option he had with jobs, going so far as to work multiple and run the clinic late into the night. He'd thrown away some pride and accepted compensation from sympathetic neighbors and friends. None of it was working and he was running out of options.
The single father's thoughts had kept straying back to one option, one that he stubbornly forced to the back of his mind every time it surfaced. If he couldn't support three children, maybe he could try again with just two. But that was the one thing he wouldn't -couldn't- do. The former shinigami captain loved his children more than anything; they were all he had left. There was no way he could give one away, but again, that nagging voice in the back of his head, the one telling him that it was the only option left for him was persistent and it made a good argument.
The next grueling dilemma was which one. He hated how calmly he was thinking of this possibility, these were his children, how could he give any of them to some one else. But again, there was that voice of reason in the back of his mind, saying once again it was the only option, and then it made a convincing point. The child that left wouldn't have died, he'd only be staying with someone else for a while, he refused to think of just how long. Isshin quickly became horrified with himself. Without even realizing, he'd somehow started thinking the child that couldn't stay was Ichigo, and that made the most sense.
Ichigo was old enough that he wouldn't forget his first family if he went to stay with another, the twins were just that, twins, they couldn't be separated, and Ichigo undoubtedly carried most if not all of his parents' spiritual potential. He'd have to learn about his heritage sooner or later, and if he learned it sooner the young orangette would have that much more time to accept it. He even knew the perfect person to raise a kid like his…
Over the course of another few weeks, he'd told Ichigo every thing he knew about who and what the boy was. Predictably Ichigo hadn't taken the extra information well, which had led to it being broken up over so long a period of time. Eventually though, Ichigo learned and accepted everything, already being able to see ghosts helped immensely, and then came the time Isshin had to break the news of his decision. To say that Ichigo took it horribly would be an understatement. He'd just been told he would lose the rest of his family not long after he'd lost his mother. To his nine year old mind, it seemed like he would never be able to see them again, and that was more than he was able to handle. Needless to say he broke down into sobbing mess, his mind coming up with all sorts of reasons as to why and what might happen.
Isshin fortunately managed to calm his son down after carefully explaining his reasons, Ichigo finally breaking on it'll be better for your sisters. In the end it was agreed that they wouldn't tell Karin and Yuzu, the two were much too young to understand what their father was thinking when he sent away their older brother.
A few days after he'd said all he needed to, he brought Ichigo to an old friend of his, this man could take care of his son, at least in terms of putting food on the table and he'd also be able to help Ichigo discover his abilities. The boy had still cried all the way to the Urahara Shoten, but at least he understood why it was necessary. Hopefully sometime in the near future he'd be able to come and visit.
Ichigo had only been living with Urahara for a few weeks and already it was becoming apparent that the exiled shinigami captain was not a man ready for raising children. How Ururu and Jinta made it so far was beyond anyone who knew the man. Ichigo had settled in well, he could still see his father and sisters almost whenever he wanted and he started some basic training with Urahara. By the time Urahara finally cracked under the responsibility he had already consulted with Isshin about moving Ichigo elsewhere, the father wouldn't appreciate the sudden disappearance of his son after all.
In the end, Urahara finally convinced his old friend that giving Ichigo to a certain someone would be the best option. When the two went about setting up the exchange, it was surprisingly easy to get the new guardian to agree. Probably because Ichigo was so unique as whatever he was. Convincing Ichigo though, they knew would be nothing short of impossible. Not being able to see his sisters would seem like the end to him and nothing would pacify him except not going through with the move. So instead, they did the unthinkable. The two kept it from the nine year old and pulled him through the Garganta Urahara created when it was finally finished.
Needless to say, when Ichigo woke up in a strange place with a strange man sitting by the strange bed he was sleeping in, he didn't take it well. Over time however he got used to it and almost accepted his predicament. Not knowing his father had helped pull this off probably helped too. Adjusting wasn't as easy as it could have been though; a few members of the Arrancar Aizen kept close not approving of him. Nel had taken a liking to him right away, probably because he was closest to her in age, and Ulquiorra, well it was impossible to tell what Ulquiorra thought. Aizen said Ichigo was staying and Ulquiorra supported that, whether or not he actually wanted the human child there or not.
Others, like Starrk and Harribel honestly had no opinion on him, they didn't particularly like him but he never bothered them. The remaining three were problematic for there own reasons. Grimmjow and Nnoitra just didn't like the idea of a kid running around, and Szayelaporro had taken an unhealthy interest in him. Unhealthy for Ichigo, mind you, an interest for Szayel involves cutting it open and seeing how it works. Aizen and Gin traded off looking after him, though there were times when it was simply impossible for either of them to shirk their duties as captains. In those times, either Ulquiorra or Starrk looked after him.
The first few times the young orangette was placed with Ulquiorra all he did was trail after him, the stoic Arrancar doing nothing more than keeping him out of harms way. The boy quickly grew on Ulquiorra however, or maybe having a silent shadow just got annoying, and he started talking to him. Staying with Starrk was easy from the start, his visits to the sleepy brunette mostly consisting of playing games with Nel and Lilynette.
Even as he got older he still maintained a close connection with Nel, but it also became easier to get along with the other three that originally Ichigo had avoided at all costs. Nnoitra and Grimmjow were mostly after the same thing, so after Ichigo became what the both of them deemed a worthy sparring partner the three started getting along better. Szayel was a bit harder though because what he wanted wasn't something Ichigo would give, at least not without serious doubt and regret. Their relationship did seem to improve with time, however. Ichigo agreed to let Szayel run some more mundane experiments on him, like testing the extent of his strength and abilities. Through those experiments the two got to know each other better until, surprisingly, the pink haired scientist decided he liked Ichigo too much to experiment on him.
Life had continued like that for some time until Ichigo turned fifteen. At that point, over the course of many, many months, he finally convinced Aizen to let them move to the human world, explaining that it would be a good experience for some of the Arrancar as well as him.
That brought the timeline back to near present. They'd set everything up with the help of Urahara and then finally had moved from Las Noches in Hueco Mundo to Karakura, Japan only a week before present time. They'd spent most of that week exploring and setting up the ground floor and their rooms which left Ichigo to wonder when Szayel had found the time and means to claim the basement as his lab. But by the end of the week everything had been settled and the unusual family moved into their new home and gigai, Ichigo had started his first day at the high school and was currently in the middle of a very emotional yet happy reunion with the biological family he'd missed for six years.
Back in the present time, everyone had finally calmed down enough to stop crying, though there was the occasional sniffle from Yuzu. There was really nothing to say. All the family of four needed was the comforting presence of a long lost member within arms reach to know everything was as it should be again. All that was really needed was time to enjoy the moment.
After the moment, Yuzu asked, "Ichi-nii, are you going to stay for dinner?" It seemed like an innocent enough question, but the unspoken meaning was clear, 'Are you going to leave again?'
For a moment, all she received was a sad smile, but then Ichigo replied, "I'm sorry Yuzu, but I can't. How about I ask and then next time you, Karin and Dad might be able to have dinner with me and the people who have been taking care of me?"
Smiling, she agreed happily, her answer applying to Karin as well. His father a bit more reluctant, unsure whether it was really a good idea to let his daughters, who had so little knowledge of the spiritual, to be so close to so many powerful Hollows. However, if Ichigo suggested it, that meant he had complete faith that his other family would cause no harm at all to his precious sisters. Slowly, and maybe somewhat reluctantly, he agreed as well.
"Alright," Ichigo confirmed cheerfully, "I'll go see when everyone's free."
He left soon after, going straight home as the setting sun stained the horizon deep shades of orange, red, and pink. Ichigo was excited, how could he not be? After six long years he had finally been reunited with his father and sisters, but now he was presented with a dilemma. There was no telling how long his not so new family would be able to stay in the world of the living without attracting too much attention to them. If the shinigami found them they'd have too leave right away, Aizen was not quite ready to reveal his children to the Soul Society yet, and therein lay Ichigo's problem. He'd not only known his original family for longer but some of his best memories lay there as well, but he had also come to truly love and care for his adopted family, sharing equally unforgettable moments with them. So who did he chose? When the Soul Society came, and they surely would, did he go to his first family and live a normal happy life, or did he stay by his adopted family and risk never seeing his sisters and father again?
There were too many variables in those questions, too many ways for things to change. So when Ichigo finally made it back to his current home, cutting the time until dinner immeasurably close, he had predictably not yet found an answer. In place of one, he had made a pact with himself to enjoy whatever time he did have with both of his families. He'd choose which bridge to cross when he got there.
"Itsygo!" a little green ball yelled as it came flying at him as soon as he closed the door. "Where were you? Nel thought you were gonna miss dinner."
'Itsygo' chuckled; leave it to Nel to nail him right as he walked through the door. "I just went for a walk, Nel. You know I wouldn't miss dinner." The next part he whispered, though he knew it wouldn't help he would still be forgiven if he played this off as entertaining Nel, "Wouldn't want Ulqui-bat getting mad now would we?"
Nel burst out laughing at Ulquiorra's hated nickname. Both she and Ichigo had come up with it after it became clear Ichigo couldn't say the undeniably bat-like Arrancar's entire name without some sort of mispronunciation at such a young age. He'd let it slide at the time, though grudgingly because it made sense. Now it was just degrading, but it seemed to keep Nel happy and no one else called him that so Ulquiorra did his best to ignore it.
Ichigo walked farther into the house, Nel taking her usual place hanging off of his shoulder. He went straight to the kitchen, now doubly aware of how late he had gotten home. As he entered the room, he took note of Starrk finishing up whatever he was making for dinner, Lilynette complaining that he never stays awake so long when it comes to spending time with her.
"Hey, Starrk, I'm home," Ichigo greeted briefly, more for common courtesy than the actual need to do so. Starrk had more than likely felt him as soon as he'd walked through the front door.
The others were scattered around the ground floor, all of them knowing better than to disappear elsewhere. Dinner had even managed to drag Szayel away from whatever godforsaken experiments he performed in the basement. Surprisingly enough, it was Starrk that set the 'everyone has dinner together' rule, making it one of the only things that could not only drag the Arrancar out of his room, but keep him awake for more than a few minutes.
Ichigo set Nel down, telling her Grimmjow seemed kind of lonely, and watched to make sure she wouldn't come back before helping Starrk set the now finished food out. Dinner was officially called only a few minutes later and everyone sat down around the rather large table, many still wondering how Starrk had found the energy to cook an entire meal.
Unfortunately, Ichigo still had to ask his question. There wasn't anyway not to since he'd told Yuzu he would, and there was no way he'd be able to lie to her. "Um…" he started awkwardly, not sure how to progress. Understandably Ichigo was nervous to have his Hollow family so close to his biological family, not because he was afraid someone would get hurt, but because he wasn't sure how they would react to each other. There was no need to worry about those like Starrk, Harribel, or Ulquiorra. At least those three knew what polite looked like. The worse Nel could do was be overly energetic, as long as she really tried to behave there was nothing to worry about from her. The others were a problem however. Being more volatile, crude, and in Szayel's case, less stable than most certainly made it more difficult to bring them out into public.
The orangette continued slowly, thinking things out even as he talked, "Today, I went to visit my first family."
That immediately got everyone's attention. They'd all known Ichigo had a family in the human world, but none had ever figured out where.
Everyone was silent, waiting for the orangette to elaborate. "I was wondering if you guys might like to have dinner with them some time. You know, get to know them a little?" The last part came out as a question, Ichigo still not sure if offering it was a good idea.
The silence that followed was anything but reassuring. If anything, the lack of noise caused Ichigo's doubt to fester until it took all of his willpower to sit there calmly and not claw his own eyes out.
Starrk finally broke that silence, unknowingly saving Ichigo from throwing himself off the cliff of sanity, "That would be nice. Do you have a specific time in mind?" His answer stood for all of them, no one daring to defy his decision.
Ichigo exhaled almost audibly, the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding almost deafeningly loud in the once again silent room. The orangette was immeasurably relieved; one simple question had never seemed so stressful before.
Dinner continued as usual with that, albeit with less chatter than normal, everyone wrapped in their own thoughts of this new and rather sudden plan. Just from Ichigo's reactions anyone with half a brain could discern that the success of this sudden development was the most important thing to him. That in itself was enough to create some surprising determination. Everyone was determined to not let Ichigo down; his happiness linked directly to the happiness of the entire household after all.
Dinner was finished quickly and everyone scattered to their own various spaces, leaving Ichigo and Ulquiorra to take care of the dishes while Nel did her best not to bother them from her reclaimed place on Ichigo's shoulders. After all the necessary chores were finished, the whole of the family sat down to set a date for the only activity they'd actually preset.
Pansy: Silver, come back here with my chocolate!
Silver: No, it's mine now. *shoves the rest of Pansy's chocolate into her mouth*
Pansy: No don't- *groans* You're going to make your throat all scratchy.
Silver: No I'm- *coughs* water.
Pansy: Told you so. Anyway, review, comment, point out inconsistencies, and hopefully I can keep her focused enough to write a new chapter.
