Title: On Fathers
Author: Saigo no Hajime
Summary: Chad learns a secret and considers the consequences it could have on Ichigo.
Pairings: IchiRuki (or at least IchigoXany shinigami female...read to understand)
Disclaimer: If I owned Bleach, IchiRuki would be canon.
Author's Note: This one-shot started out with a completely different story in mind. Then I read a defense of IchiHime that pretty much said that since Ichigo is human he ought to be with a human girl, not a shinigami one. The story twisted into my answer to that statement. Anyway, reviews and constructive criticism are very much desired!
Chad is keeping a secret from Ichigo. He knows the truth about Kurosaki Isshin. He saw the older man once, hovering in the shadows, watching as his son dispatched a hollow with a single stroke of his blade.
The doctor had nodded in satisfaction as the hollow dissipated into spirit particles, then, sensing that he was being watched, had turned and met Chad's eyes. His expression uncharacteristically serious, he raised a finger to his lips to indicate silence. Chad nodded, hesitantly, understanding that he was being asked not to mention the older Kurosaki's presence to his son. Kurosaki-san's mouth twitched into a comical grin, and then he turned and disappeared into the shadows. Chad stared after him in shock, having suddenly seen that he had been wearing shinigami robes.
Three days later, Chad saw Kurosaki-san again, at the local mall. Stepping out of the music store, he had spotted the entire Kurosaki family, as well as Kuchiki Rukia, moving slowly toward the food court. As he debated whether to join them, Kurosaki-san started loudly proclaiming that his "uncouth, brute of a son" really needed to take "his third daughter" out on a date.
"And look, there's the perfect spot right there!" He announced this in a near shout, pointing gleefully at the fancy Western restaurant that had just opened a mere two weeks before. As Ichigo spluttered half in embarrassment and half in rage, Kurosaki-san hastily dragged both his son and Kuchiki-san to the door of the restaurant and threw them inside. Chad watched, his amusement turning to surprise when neither of the two stormed out. It seemed they had decided to stay after all.
Shrugging, Chad started toward the food court himself, coincidentally following Kurosaki-san and his daughters. As he walked, he suddenly realized how extremely unusual the scene had been. Despite his frequently crazy behavior, Kurosaki Isshin had never thrown his son toward any specific girl other than Kuchiki-san. Admittedly, Ichigo didn't interact with many females, but Tatsuki and Orihime certainly had been in his presence often, especially in the last few months since Orihime's rescue from Hueco Mundo. Yet Kurosaki-san had never once indicated that Ichigo should pay any romantic attention to them.
Looking up, he realized that Yuzu and Karin had run ahead to get into line at one of the smaller restaurants. Kurosaki-san had fallen back and turned around to look directly at Chad. Hesitating for a moment, Chad gave in to his curiosity and stepped forward to meet him. The elder Kurosaki watched him, not speaking. After a second, Chad spoke.
"Why do you do that?" He asked.
Isshin raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"
"Push Ichigo and Kuchiki-san together. You know what she is, after all. Wouldn't a human girl be better?" Chad hated what he was saying. He knew what Ichigo felt for Kuchiki-san. He really shouldn't be getting involved at all.
Isshin sighed and turned to look at the Western restaurant that was the site for his son's impromptu date. "My son isn't human, Sado."
Chad's eyes widened at the response. Of course Ichigo was human. It didn't matter that he had Shinigami powers. He was still alive, he still had a body. How could he not be human?
"Or at least, he's not entirely human," Isshin continued. "He's only half human, and he knows too much about the Spirit World to ever truly be comfortable here anymore."
Chad nodded at that. After Hueco Mundo, their group had established a patrol schedule which allowed all of them time for school work and free time, while still keeping the town protected from hollows. Ichigo all too often lost interest in normal human activities after only a short while, and ended up spending most of his free time training at the Urahara Shoten. It seemed as if it had become quite a difficult task for him to refrain from Shinigami activity, even for only a short amount of time.
Isshin offered him a sad smile, as if he knew exactly what the boy was thinking about. "I doubt that Ichigo is going to live out the entirety of his human lifetime, you know. He'll stay as long as the people here need him, but I don't think anyone he knows would be so selfish as to hold him back if he'd rather leave."
Chad looked away. The thought of Ichigo not being at his side for life was a painful one. Kurosaki-san was right, though. If Ichigo would be happier somewhere else, Chad would never stop him from going.
Isshin frowned slightly, his eyes growing distant. "The thing is, it would be a lot harder on Ichigo if he fell for a human woman. Soul Society is strict on relations between the two worlds. It's why I haven't revealed myself, even now that Ichigo has earned a place among the Shinigami. I don't know what would be done with my girls, or with me."
Chad couldn't help interrupting. "Ichigo would never allow anything to happen. He would-"
"He would just get himself into trouble. It doesn't matter. Yuzu and Karin have no reason to be involved, and not even Ichigo knows about me." Isshin paused, running his fingers through his hair, "In any case, Ichigo's already in a bad position, at least when it comes to romance. He's half-blood, and any child of his will be also, no matter who the mother is." The sad smile returned to his face. "If he falls in love with a Shinigami, all he has to do is end his human lifetime immediately and become a full Shinigami. Then there will be no problems. But if he falls for a human woman, it's impossible. Ichigo will never be fully human, and Soul Society would never knowingly allow a mixed race relationship."
Chad was stunned. He'd never thought of that, that Soul Society wouldn't allow Ichigo to have relations with a human. He'd only considered that possibility in terms of Kuchiki-san. "But they don't know about you," he protested. "They don't know that Ichigo is half-blood."
Isshin shook his head. "It doesn't matter. Just having the powers of a Shinigami is enough to bind him by their laws. Why do you think Yama-jii thought he could order Ichigo not to go to after Orihime-chan? As far as he's concerned, Ichigo's a junior member of the Gotei 13 already, and required to obey. Saying he's human is just an excuse not to give him the benefits of the position. You can be sure he'll be treated as a Shinigami if it came to anything calling for disciplinary action."
Chad stared, casting around desperately for some response to that shocking revelation. He was almost relieved when the sound of Yuzu and Karin returning with their food reached his ears. He had no idea what to say to Kurosaki-san.
The older man hesitated slightly, then quietly, making sure his daughters couldn't hear, said, "Ichigo is the sort of person who needs to marry, who needs to structure his existence with one person at the center. He would never survive alone. If the only way to keep him from being alone is to let him leave this world, then that's what needs to be done."
Kurosaki Isshin gave Chad one last serious look, then abruptly twisted his face into a comical expression and shouted, "My beloved daughters have returned! Jump into my bosom and allow me to welcome you back!"
Karin leaped at him, slamming her fist into his nose, while Yuzu blushed in embarrassment at the looks the family was now receiving from the other mall customers. Chad just watched silently, trying to absorb everything he had just learned, and wondering at the mystery that was Kurosaki Isshin.
But really, it wasn't that much of a mystery. When all the peculiarities of life were boiled away, all that was left was a father, who would do anything to protect his children. Maybe someday Chad would tell Ichigo, making sure his friend knew just how amazing his father really was. For now, though, it would stay a secret.