Ichigo's True Heritage
Chapter 4
The Next Morning….
Ichigo woke up hearing the song of a Bluejay singing outside. Keeping his eyes closed, Ichigo listened to the bird with his eyes still closed. He felt warm and comfy with his head on his ultra-soft pillow. Ichigo sighed as he relaxed, feeling his stiff body unwind for the first time in a long time. But something seemed off. 'Wait… there are no Bluejay's in Karakura Town this time of year.' Though it pained him to do so, Ichigo opened his eyes.
And saw… a boob?
'What the heck?' It took him a moment to realize that his head was on top of a woman's chest, her arms wrapped around him tightly. Looking up he saw the sleeping face of the beautiful Rangiku Matsumoto.
'No, not Rangiku… my mother.'
It'd been so long since he'd felt a mother's embrace that the thought was almost too much for him to bear. He remembered how badly he took the news last night but then he remembered the tear-stained look on Rangiku's face and the powerful hug she wrapped around him and suddenly it hit him.
It might've been like a bad dream to Ichigo, but to Rangiku it must've been a neverending hell.
He thought of his father's story, Isshin not Aizen, of how Rangiku came to him and gave him away, leaving Ichigo with only his name. Feeling something warm deep down inside him, Ichigo cuddled into his mother's embrace, happy to finally feel a mother's love after all this time.
It was not to last long, however, as the door opened on the other side of the room. Hearing it open woke up Rangiku and disturbed Ichigo's rest. Both wearily looked up to see Captain Hitsugaya standing there. He looked a little embarrassed to interrupt their peaceful slumber. "Ichigo, come with me. The Head-Captain wants to speak with you." When he saw how reluctant Rangiku was to let Ichigo out of her embrace he quickly added "He wants to speak with right now."
Looking up at Rangiku, Ichigo almost sighed in defeat as he slid out of her arms and the bed. Sitting up next to him, Rangiku kissed his forehead. "I'll be waiting right here, Ichigo."
"Ok Rang-" he caught himself. "I…I don't even know what to call you. Rangiku? Mom? My other mother?"
Rangiku gave her son a sad smile. "For now, until you're ready, call me Rangiku." Ichigo nodded and hugged her again before leaving with Toshiro.
As they walked out of the building Ichigo saw many of Captain Hitsugaya's subordinates nearby. Noticing how not many of them were paying him so much as a passing glance, Ichigo got curious. "Um… Toshiro? Exactly how many people know the truth about… you know…."
"Only the Captains and most of the Lieutenants, plus Ikkaku and Yumichika, know the truth about you and your parents. We thought it might be better not to let everyone know right now, especially not Squad 5." Toshiro remembered something else. "Momo doesn't know either. I…I don't think she'd take it well right now if she learned you were her captain's son after what that man did to her." Toshiro didn't say that because he thought Momo would try to hurt Ichigo in order to get revenge on Aizen; with the boy's strength there'd be no contest. It'd be the opposite. Toshiro was afraid that Momo would cling to any remaining fragment of Aizen that she could get her hands on, and right now that fragment was Ichigo.
The two walked in silence as they made their way to the Squad 1 building. Ichigo walked with Toshiro until they passed the Head-Captain's office. "Wait…isn't the old man here?"
Toshiro shook his head. "Not this early in the morning. Head-Captain Yamamoto usually keeps to his private garden this time of day." As they walked to the back of the building Toshiro said "Ichigo, I know that you've never been one for formality but please address the Head-Captain as such. He's sometimes quick to anger."
Ichigo nodded and followed him through a small gate. Toshiro pointed to the Head-Captain, sitting in the middle of a small rock garden. "Over there. I'll escort you back to Squad 10." Toshiro stepped back and closed the gate.
The first thing that Ichigo noticed as he walked through the small garden was how quiet it was. The sounds of the Squad 1 men training, the birds chirping and footsteps from the wooden steps: all quiet. Ichigo sat down next the Head-Captain and waited.
The elder man sat there motionless for a few moments before raising his head and addressing the substitute. "Ichigo Kurosaki, how are you feeling today? After last night, I'd expect you're still in shock."
Ichigo chose his words carefully, remembering Toshiro's advice. "Yes, I…I'm still praying that this is all a bad dream. I mean…" the memory of his battle with Aizen and how he'd mercilessly defeated him drifted into his mind. "I don't want to think that I came from him."
Yamamoto turned around and sharply gazed at the boy, his eyes uncharacteristically open. "No, you're certainly nothing like your father." Ichigo was about to spit out that the man was NOT his father but the old man cut him off. "I know how you must feel, but the facts are laid bare. You are the scion of Souske Aizen. You must make peace with this if ever you are to move forward."
Ichigo swallowed the lump in his throat and kept silent. After a moment Ichigo asked "Is Rangi-I mean, is my mom going to be in trouble?"
Yamamoto shook his head, his eyes looking at a nearby rock. "No, your mother has already tortured herself enough with what she's done. I'll not do any more damage." The Head-Captain turned back to Ichigo. "My most pressing concern is what to make of you."
Ichigo steeled himself, partially wishing he still had Zangetsu on his back. He left it with Rangiku before he left after Toshiro told him to leave it. "You're not… going to execute me, are you?"
"For what?" Yamamoto asked with an eyebrow raised. "I will not pin the sins of the father onto his child. I've already made that clear to the other captains. No, when I say that my concern is what to make of you, it is whether or not I should let you confront your father when the time comes."
"Confront my father?"
Yamamoto's face turned grave, a rather impressive feat considering most of his face was covered by his thick beard. "No doubt Souske and his cohorts are planning their next move. When the time comes the 13 Court Guard Squads will meet them in battle, but you are still a mystery to us, Ichigo Kurosaki. You have a kind heart, and you have shown that you will not lift your sword for yourself, but in defense of others. In this, you are nothing like your father. But I've seen your strength firsthand. Now that I know the truth, I can easily understand where all that raw power came from. Souske used you, though you were unaware, to further his own ends and from the way he phrased his words in your confrontation he's been quite aware of your existence, so it's a mystery as to how long he's manipulated your life so far. When the time comes, I wonder if he has some plan in store for you to either join him, willingly or unwillingly, or to turn you against us. Therefore, I am pondering whether or not it is wise to let you go into battle with us."
Ichigo shook his head. "No. After all he's done to Rukia and Renji I'll never join him." He remembered his conversation with Aizen last night about how the man had kept him safe from hollows and wondered himself what else he's done behind the scenes.
"You say that now, but Souske has a silver tongue, and he'll use any advantage to get what he wants, even if it's you." The Head-Captain stood up and grabbed his cane. "Come. Walk with me." Ichigo stood up and walked with the old man as they traveled around the rock garden. "I've decided that you will reside here for now, until the situation with Aizen has been put to rest. Your mother can educate you on the finer points of Soul Reaper combat that Kisuke Urahara neglected to teach you."
Ichigo nodded but he did have a few questions. "What about my family and friends back in the World of the Living?"
"I will be sending some of my men as a vanguard to keep watch over Karakura Town. Your sisters are in capable hands; I've no doubt that Isshin will do everything in his power to protect them. As for your friends who assisted you in your mission to rescue Rukia Kuchiki, I will ensure that they are able to travel here to see you and be able to contact you should the need arise."
Ichigo let out the breath he'd been holding in. His worst fear was that he'd be made a prisoner and kept isolated by everyone, but now it looked like he'd just have to wait awhile here in the Soul Society.
The two left the garden and made their way to Yamamoto's office, where Toshiro stood outside. "Captain Hitsugaya. Please escort Ichigo back to Squad 10. Ichigo," he turned to the substitute before heading inside, "We'll speak again soon."
Ichigo watched as the Head-Captain entered the room and his lieutenant shut the door. Following Toshiro's lead, Ichigo walked back to Squad 10. Hearing a rumble in Ichigo's stomach, Toshiro chuckled. "Don't worry about food, Ichigo; Rangiku will have already made you something by now."
And he was right. As the two returned to Rangiku's quarters they found that Rangiku had already made him a large breakfast. Ichigo ate it all rather quickly before sitting down on the bed with Rangiku. "Um… Rangiku?"
"Yes, Ichigo?" Rangiku asked as she sat down next to him.
"I…I don't really know what to say…I have absolutely no clue on what to do or say right now."
Rangiku scooched closer then lifted Ichigo's head up until they were facing each other. "Let's just talk then. I…I want to get to know my son."
And so they did. For the length of the entire day Ichigo and Rangiku stayed in her room talking. Rangiku smiled warmly as Ichigo told her about his life; life with Isshin and his sisters, meeting Chad and the others, protecting his friends from hollows as Rukia's substitute. In turn she told her son all about her life, how she first met Gin and became a Soul Reaper, working under Captain Shiba. She laughed at Ichigo's deadpanned face when she told him about the various times he'd skip out on work.
She avoided mentioning Gin all that much, which made Ichigo wonder about the crafty man. 'I wonder if Gin knows about me? And what his reaction to this is.' He remembered his first confrontation at the Seireitei's gate; something about the man seemed…off. Like his mind was in another place.
By the time they stopped night had fallen. Feeling tired, Ichigo got into bed. Rangiku smiled and pulled him into her embrace again, running a hand through his orange hair as he slumbered off. Before she could let him enter dreamland, Rangiku had one last thing say. "Ichigo… I know that I can never make it up to you for all the years I left you alone, but I'm truly sorry." She felt tears run down her face as she apologized to the boy. "I'm so sorry…."
Ichigo, though he hadn't quite come to terms with his parentage yet, looked up and smiled at Rangiku. "It's alright. You didn't leave me alone. My…my family and friends have all been there for me. You don't have anything to apologize for."
Hearing Ichigo absolving her of her guilt made her smile. 'He truly has a kind heart….' She held Ichigo close as they both fell asleep. Outside, as the reunited mother and son slumbered; a dark thunderstorm was brewing….
Meanwhile….
Los Noches: Aizen's quarters
Aizen watched as Tosen walked into the room. The man bowed before the rogue before reporting in. "Lord Aizen, several Soul Reapers have entered the World of the Living. I have the location of several of them."
"Do any of them reside with Orihime Inoue?" Aizen asked.
"Yes sir. Captain Kyoraku and Nanao Ise have made her home their quarters for now."
Aizen waited for a moment before replying. "I see. Keep watch over Orihime Inoue, no doubt my son will be keen to leap to her defense if anything should happen to her. Inform me if Captain Ukitake brings any communication equipment to the girl."
"Yes sir."
Aizen watched as the man exited before addressing the other man in the room. "Gin, how long are you going to hide in the shadows?"
The foxy traitor stepped out from behind the throne. "Oh Cap'n Aizen, you found me! So, can I ask something I've always wanted to ask?"
"Go ahead."
"If Ichi's your son, what's that make me?"
"A monkey's uncle."
Gin almost died laughing. "Cap'n Aizen! Did you just make a joke?!" the silver man snickered.
"Why yes, Gin, I just did. But to answer your question I guess you're the closest thing Ichigo has to an uncle or godfather."
Calming down, Gin smiled as Aizen stood up. "So what do you have planned for Ichigo? You gonna use the hogyoku on him like you did the arrancars to get him to join us?"
As he headed for the door, Aizen turned his head. "I don't need to turn him into a hollow, Gin. Kisuke Urahara already saved me the trouble himself. As for the hogyoku…" he turned to the pillar where he kept the small object. "I've already used it on Ichigo. I'll deal with him when the time comes."
Gin cocked his head. "You know, you really need to work on your parenting skills. You sure did a number on him back on Sokyoku Hill."
Aizen smiled as he walked out of the room. "Spare the rod…."
To Be Continued….
