Meg: I'm sorry it took me so long! T.T I had to find some inspiration for this chapter! It took me nearly 2 hours to write QQ! And my muses gave me no motivation to write... Which reminds me! My cast wants to say hi and mention a few things so that will be at the end of this chapter if you care to read it!
Kyu: I like talking to Ichigo-san, he's pretty cool and I've never met someone with the same hair color as me!
Shi: Kuchiki-taicho and Hitsugaya-taicho are interesting, although I noticed the latter has a temper...
Meg: Well Toshiro-kun is like that *from outside the room you hear "That's Hitsugaya-taichou to you, Meg rolls her eye* plus it's no surprise you get along with Byakuya-sama, you and him are very similar... *shudders at the thought of having them in the same room later*
Kyu: Meg-chan? Why do you insist on pissing of Hitsugaya-taicho?
Meg:Cuz I can, plus he won't hurt me! *smiles brightly* He even agreed to letting me use him in What Happens in My House so I'm happy! Which reminds me to write that... Yumi and Jay are scary when they dun get their chappies... *blinks*
Shi: Alright enough, let the readers get to the story! Discaimer: Meg doesn't own Bleach but it surely owns her, she finally caught up on it today... *eye twitches*
Ichigo relaxed back into the bed, Unohana having just left the room. Since he had woken, he hadn't seen anyone. He assumed it was because Unohana chose not to allow him visitors. He found out he'd been unconscious for 3 days, so deeply his reiatsu was almost non-existent. But now he could feel it surging out of him and he forced it to reign in, as it was constantly flaring towards the window of his room. He vaguely remembered the words Renji spoke while he was unconscious, and his heart pounded in his chest while he hoped it wasn't his imagination.
Unohana had told him he was free to leave after a nights rest, nothing seemed unusual. He scowled at the thought.
'Aibou… What do you think they mean that they want us?' Shiro spoke. 'I'm not sure I like the way that sounds… You know how they said we aren't anything? I don't know what they mean, I thought we were Visored? That's what the old man said, and still says.'
'I don't know Shiro, I'm just glad I've got you here to be honest.' Ichigo mentally sighed, his brain running through all possible scenarios as quickly as he'd been trained to as a doctor. 'What I do know however is that we need to talk to the head captain.'
Ichigo started at the sudden warning bell that rang, signaling a senior officer meeting. He smiled a small, devilish smile, 'Perfect.'
Stretching slowly as he sat up and then stood, he tested out his reiatsu control by muffling it as best as he could, which turned out to be quite a lot, it was undetectable unless you were right next to him. 'Damn Grimmjow, he missed everything vital but took out my core of energy. The bastard.' Ichigo snarled internally for a moment. Then he shook loose his muscles and jumped out the window, heading towards the 1st divisions barracks.
He slowed down once he was outside the doors, he cast a glance at the guards that told them not to argue with him, his haori making them gulp audibly. As the doors swung open he strode in, his haori flaring outwards impressively. He took his place silently next to Kira, as Unohana started but chose to stay silent.
"Kurosaki-taicho. I was informed you wouldn't be making an appearance." The head captain stated calmly.
"If that's what Unohana-taicho said then I'm sorry but you were misinformed. We all know that I'm not going to lay in a bed while a meeting is in session." Ichigo said coolly. He caught Soi-fon's glare and ignored it, choosing instead to glance down the line of captains. Blinking calmly he caught Byakuya's gaze and nodded a slight answer to the unspoken question.
"Well this is a matter of what exactly attacked us 3 days ago. As the captains who were there – and injured –" Ichigo bristled at the slight insult. "Will Abarai-taicho and Kurosaki-taicho step forward? You were the only ones who would have caught a glimpse, as everyone else had no chance to see who it was." Yamamoto's hand ran over his beard lightly as Ichigo and Renji both stepped forward slightly to deliver their reports.
"It was the Espada." Ichigo said calmly. And Renji nodded solemnly.
"They decided they want Ichigo – I mean Kurosaki-taicho; they said that we have 3 months or Kurosaki-taicho will have to come to them or die."
Ichigo scowled a little bit. "That would be right before I was overwhelmed by his strength and speed and took Grimmjow's Cero to the stomach." Byakuya had told him a captain who withheld details endangered everyone. And judging by the collective intake of breath, his statement had caught them off guard. They all knew he was detained but they didn't know the extent of the damage. "Judging by the reactions of the room, you weren't told beforehand. The Espada are back with increased power. Also I noticed a change in their reiatsu. Not only was it stronger, it was altered."
Renji cast his gaze to the ground. "The reiatsu was highly similar to the unique signature given off by Kurosaki-taicho. Also, after Kurosaki-taicho was down and I rushed to assist him the Espada laughed and said that was all for now, the effects were about to wear off. The black haired one, Ulquiorra, looked back after they opened a Gargantua and told me that Kurosaki was one of them, the strongest one. When I asked what he meant, the blue haired one, Grimmjow, laughed again and told me that they found out how Kurosaki was the way he was… and followed in his footsteps. It is my small belief that they found a way to come back as something similar to Kurosaki-taicho."
With this block of information even Ichigo stiffened. The head captain nodded and looked at Ichigo. "I would like you to give a sample of your reiatsu to Kurotsuchi-taicho for him to study. We have some reiatsu residue left from the cero that was fired at –through – you." Ichigo scowled.
"I will." Ichigo reached into the pocket of his shihakusho and pulled out a needle and capsule, uncapped the needle and jammed it into his arm. After letting the capsule fill with the reddish liquid looking substance he pulled it out, capped the needle and handed it to Kurotsuchi. "I'm sorry but I will not be entering the Department of Research and Development any time soon, I got my fill of that a long time ago."
"I would like the captains to mull over this information, tomorrow holds another meeting in store, I would also implore you to keep this from the lower ranked Shinigami for now." The head captain said finally. Then with definite finality, "Dismissed."
"Hai sou-taicho." Was chorused from the captains and they turned and milled tensely towards the door. Once the door was closed and they were all outside, most everybody stopped and turned to stare at Ichigo and Renji. Ichigo sighed and looked at his former lover.
"Are we going to do this at your place or mine?"
Startled Renji could only stutter, "W-what?"
Sighing again Ichigo shook his head. "Mine then." He looked at the captains and smiled wryly. He was glad Mayuri was elsewhere by now. "Dinner at 6. Zaraki bring Yumichika and Ikkaku. I'm sending a soul page to Yorouichi-san and Urahara-san to tell them to be here or else."
With that Ichigo turned on his heal and strode towards the 3rd division barracks, calling out over his shoulder. "That means all of you, I'm cooking. Come on Kira! We've got work to do!"
The group stood there, slightly stunned. They cast glances at each other as Ichigo walked away, Kira catching up and following close behind. They all drew a collective intake of breath before they all yelled "What!"
The only thing they heard in response was Ichigo's ringing laugh, that unlike normal, was tinged with a hint of sorrow.
That night Renji was the first to arrive at Ichigo's home. When he got to the door he took a deep breath and entered after a faint come in was called from deeper within. He walked in towards the kitchen. The room was standard to all captains, so he knew the layout quite well. Blinking as he stepped into the kitchen he took in a sight to behold, at least that's what his brain told him. He fidgeted uncomfortable as Ichigo turned to him, chef's apron already being pulled over his head.
"Here." The orange haired shinigami said as he tossed the apron to the surprised captain. "Put that on the hook will you? All I need to do is fry these and dinner will be ready so I'm just going to set up the table and set the fryer in the middle so we can do this at our own pace."
"Uhh.." Renji scratched behind his ear. "Are you… sure you should cook? I-I mean when we were—uhh yea – you couldn't really cook very well…"
He winced in anticipation of an outburst and was met with a soft laugh. Startled He snapped his gaze up to meet the one barely feet before him. 'What is this… He could barely stand to be near me before… What changed? Did he… Did he hear me?' Renji's startled mind barely registered when Ichigo pressed his finger against his forehead, leaving a flour finger print there.
"After we… broke up, shall we say, I had Yuzu teach me how to cook better on the side, living alone you get quite hungry, and I can't survive on Ramen, although I did learn amazing things to do with it." Ichigo smiled and turned away to gather a tray stacked full of buns. "I made bbq pork buns, if that's okay with you… I remember it's your favorite."
Renji turned away and put the apron on the hook, nodding dumbly. Then, remember Ichigo wouldn't see such a motion with their backs to each other, stuttered. "Uh, yea."
When he turned back Ichigo was just getting up off his knees, and Renji caught the slight shine to Ichigo's eyes that indicated sadness, although the ex-substitute shinigami never liked to cry. Renji took two quick steps and grabbed the orange haired man gently. The other's lips parted in surpise and the red head pressed his lips to the slightly shorter mans, a kiss filled with a hint of sorrow and love.
"I'm sorry for what I did Ichigo…" He whispered when he broke the long kiss.
"I heard you the first time… I forgive you but you have to tell me everything…" Ichigo looked up, as a silent tear slipped out of the corner of his eye.
"Later…I promise…" Ichigo leaned up and pressed his lips against Renji's again, this time; there was no sadness, only love that was rekindled.
A soft cough brought them to reality and the broke apart abashed, and saw the shocked faces of Hisagi and Rangiku.
A/N: That took FOREVER! Yay now I can get it actiony with some lovin! Whoot! ANd don't worry Byakya fans! I won't make Ichigo too mad... Just really upset... He has a cooler head now sooo! And now a word from our cast!
Ichigo: I just wanted to say that I was surprised! Not overwhelmed *sweatdrop as he crosses his arms and huffs*
Renji: Calm down babe, you're fine. It's just a story it didn't really happen. Plus, if I have to deal with my character being r-r.. .Yea that then I think you can handle this...
Byakuya: *scowling* I would never do something so disgusting or selfish or stupid... Just saying...
Toshiro: Why do I have to be here again? Oh yea, Tenno-san made me come *sighs* I should go put Matsumoto to work... She's been slacking... And no wonder! I'll have to talk to Shuhei-san...
Meg: Calm down To-shi-ro! *grinning widely* Anyway I'm glad you guys could make an appearance, I'll probably call you all again to answer questions! I'll see you later!
And thank you to all my lovely supporters! Especially my reviewers:
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^Let me know if I spelled your name wrong, I'll be sure to fix it! And If you have questions feel free to ask, I've always got a way to get an answer to you!
