Seven days left of Spring Break. Five days since Aberon had arrived into the Kurosaki family and created a pack of seventeen with the ability to change into wolves. Ichigo wasn't sure how it had happened, but in five days, what he thought would be just another Spring Break of handling his dad and fighting Hollows while juggling homework turned out to be a wild adventure.
What made it even more interesting was to see four old school friends showing up at his door with determined faces.
"Tatsuki-san?" Ichigo blinked, startled to see the black haired karate champion, Arisawa Tatsuki, at his door in a slack shirt and blue jeans with her arms crossed and expression serious. "What's up?"
"'What's up', Ichigo?" She shot back at him, sounding frustrated with something and making Ichigo frown. "I saw you the other day as a giant wolf, so don't ask me what the Hell is wrong."
Realizing what she and the others were there for, Ichigo's scowl appeared and he opened the door, pushing them inside. Though they complained, he herded the four of them to the living room. Tatsuki was surprised to see that Orihime was already there playing with a white and blue wolf pup that Tatsuki remembered seeing with Ichigo. Ichigo's two sisters, watching the young woman play, looked up curiously at the four newcomers.
"That's the puppy that was with him, right?" A red headed, violet eyed girl questioned Tatsuki. Honsho Chizuru had let her hair grow down to her shoulders and was in a low cut violet shirt and slim fitting shorts, now sporting orange colored glasses instead of her former red.
"Yeah." Tatsuki nodded. Aberon had noticed them by now and left Orihime to see the four humans closer.
"Good morning, Tatsuki!" Orihime waved to her best friend. "Come to play with Abe-kun?"
"Abe-kun?" Tatsuki gaped at her friend. "You have a nickname for this wolf?"
"Something wrong with that?" The busty woman tilted her head, confused.
Concerned what the karate champ had in mind, Ichigo quickly picked up his canine brother and moved away to sit on the couch, whispering to the pup not to talk for now.
"Where the Hell did he come from?" A young man with short brown hair jumped out from behind the others and pointed accusingly at the puppy in Ichigo's lap.
"Not so loud, Keigo." Ichigo sighed. Asano Keigo gulped before apologizing and moving back a step. Keigo had a floral shirt on unbuttoned with a white tank underneath and khakis. He seemed like he was planning on heading to the beach.
"So what's going on, Kurosaki-san?" The fourth member of the group, Kojima Mizuiro, made himself known. He'd cut his black hair a little shorter again and also wore beach attire. Seeing as he sported a slight tan, they guessed he had just returned from the beach.
"Ichi-nii rescued Abe-kun off the streets." Karin answered. "He apparently came here with a circus but got left behind and was running around trying to find his okaasan. Ichi-nii found him with his paws all beat up and took him in. He's our pet now."
"He doesn't have a collar." Tatsuki argued.
"Doesn't like them." Ichigo shot back. "Pet or no, he is a wolf. Besides, he's well trained."
"So what about when I saw you running by as a wolf?"
The Kurosakis silenced and Orihime avoided the conversation by fiddling with her skirt.
"What do you all know that I don't?" Tatsuki scowled as fiercely as Ichigo, arms crossed. "You're leaving me out of something again and I won't stand for it."
Ichigo and Orihime shared a glance, something passing between them in that instant that the four humans didn't quite catch.
"Abe-kun isn't an ordinary wolf." The young woman finally spoke up. "He can give you the power to turn into a wolf."
No reply. They were silent. Motioning to the puppy to go ahead, Ichigo remained still while Aberon jumped back off the couch and walked over to them.
"There is no need to be alarmed." He told them softly, startling them. "I can explain everything."
So he did, once the four humans were sitting down and calmed. Ichigo watched them carefully in case they tried to hurt the pup in any way. But he didn't need to seeing as they just stared at Aberon and took in everything he said in stunned silence. Hollows, old news, the power to turn into a wolf, on a different plane of existence. Once Aberon had explained what he could he then went quiet, amber eyes glancing between each of them for signs of distrust or hostility.
"S-so, you're all wolves?" Keigo stuttered, turning to Orihime and the three Kurosakis.
"That's right." Ichigo nodded. "If you want proof we have to go outside, the room is too small for that form."
"Who else is a wolf?" Tatsuki demanded instead.
"Uhh…" Ichigo took a moment to recall everyone in his pack, leaving out the zanpaktous and Shiroken for now. "Me, my dad, Yuzu-chan, Karin-chan, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Urahara-san, Yoruichi-san, Jinta, Ururu and Tessai-san."
"That's a lot of people." Mizuiro said calmly though he paled slightly.
"It kinda grows on its own." The orange haired man shrugged. Aberon grinned at him.
Ichigo then turned to Tatsuki, noticing the girl seemed to be at war with herself over what she had heard.
"If you want in go ahead, Abe-kun likes getting new members." He told her and she looked up at him in surprise. "What, you hate being left out, don't you?
"Damn right. But…" From what Ichigo could tell, Tatsuki wanted to be in the loop but was hesitant about having herself changed into a wolf.
"If you don't like it, Aberon can take it away." He told her and Aberon nodded. "I was planning on setting a date to work out this whole pack system with Abe-kun's help, a few more members wouldn't hurt."
"I'm in." Mizuiro replied with a calm tone, his surprise over Aberon's powers having worn off.
"Eh?" Keigo blanched. "Fine, I'm in too!"
"Voice lower." Ichigo growled at him when Aberon winced at Keigo's high pitched tone. The brunette bowed in apology.
"Guess I'm in too." Tatsuki nodded her assent.
"I'll be in it for Hime-chan!" Chizuru squealed as she glomped said woman, her voice causing Aberon to flatten his ears and Ichigo to growl again.
Tatsuki quickly removed the lesbian from Orihime's person and chewed Chizuru out herself, saving the young man any work on his part. Once the drama was over, Aberon gave each of them in turn their wolf power and warned them that if they changed they had to find him to be changed back. They agreed and decided to wait until Ichigo's pack meeting to try it out.
"So when are you holding it?" Tatsuki asked.
"Well, tomorrow is no good since dad will be out with Yuzu-chan shopping." At this the brunette twin smiled while Karin sighed heavily. "And Uryu is finishing all his homework tomorrow. It'll probably be Friday then."
"Got it." Keigo saluted and then left.
"You can count on us being there." Tatsuki nodded, then scratched Aberon behind the ears. "See ya later, Aberon."
Yipping contentedly at her in reply, Aberon wagged his tail as she continued to scratch before watching her leave with the others. Once they left there was a peaceful moment of silence.
"Well that was definitely interesting." Ichigo said aloud to break the silence.
The girls giggled slightly and returned to playing with their puppy friend, excluding Karin who went back to her reading. It was the last thing she had to do for her class. Ichigo watched them with some amusement before asking if they wanted to go out to the park for more wolf practice. Karin replied that she would join them when she finished but Yuzu and Orihime were eager to go and followed the young man out, the latter carrying said puppy.
"What should we play today, Abe-kun?" Orihime asked him.
"I don't know." He replied, squirming out of her arms to run around on his own. "As long as I'm with everyone!"
"Orihime needs to get used to her hooves first." Ichigo said over his shoulder as he led the way. "That's going to take some practice."
"How about Hide and Seek then?" She smiled. "I can run to chase after them and I can get used to sniffing them out."
"Good idea!" Yuzu grinned widely.
"Oh boy…" Ichigo sighed heavily, resigning himself to another day of running after three crazy wolves. Even if it was quite a bit of practice for him, it did get tiring after a while. 'You're helping me this time, Zangetsu.'
The zanpaktou shrugged.
As the growing pack went about their business, a meeting was held in the land of the dead, the Soul Society. The Gotei 13 Taichos and Fukutaichos were all huddled into the meeting hall, wondering why they had been called in. An aged figure sat in a throne-like chair at the head of the room, but gestured to a different figure so that attention turned to them. A petite woman with onyx colored hair, two braids clothed in white with golden rings on the end, and steely gray eyes stepped forward. A yellow obi tied around her waist over her white haori with the kanji for two on the back over a standard uniform.
"Just yesterday a low ranking Shinigami of my squad reported finding a strange reiryoku reading in Karakura Town suspiciously close to the Kurosaki home. It was a strong reading so no contact was made, but I have sent two Onmitsukido members out to learn more."
"Is that all?" A high-pitched voice grumbled. "We were all called here for this?"
The voice belonged to a strange looking figure with golden eyes and body painted white, his face painted black with white lines and white nose. A golden headdress covered the rest of his head. His haori had long sleeves and had a purple collar around his neck. When he lifted a hand to wave at the air impatiently, one could see blue nails cut short, with one being nearly as long as the finger it belonged too.
"It's not so much the strange reiryoku that is concerning, but its proximity to the Kurosaki house." Nibantai Taicho, Soi Fon, growled back at him. "In fact, the energy was coming from inside, suggesting that whatever the reiryoku belongs to has already been able to infiltrate it despite two Taicho class Shinigami living there. Its presence there is concerning."
"Kurosaki always seems to find strange people coming his way." Sighed a short man, he seemed no more than thirteen, white hair seeming to defy gravity a little with part of it hanging down to just above his left eye and eyes a bright teal yet ice cold. He had a turquoise scarf around his neck and his haori was sleeveless, a chain strapped around him with a star shaped clasp where he normally held his zanpaktou. "I suggest simply sending someone over and learning directly from him what's going on."
"I can ask him." A short woman raised her hand. Her hair was black and had grown to her shoulders, though she was intending to cut it again, and her large eyes were violet in color. Her Jusanbantai Fukutaicho badge was on her left arm, hitching up her sleeve slightly. Fingerless white tekkou reached up to her elbows.
"Oh I'm sure that baka would tell his fiancée anything." Kurotsuchi Mayuri, the face painted man and the Junibantai Taicho, sneered at her. Kuchiki Rukia glared defiantly back at him for his insult to her fiancé.
"That aside." The aged Shinigami caught their attention. "Let us see what the Onmitsukido find first before we investigate in detail."
Sou-Taicho, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto, still had an air of authority despite a balding head and long gray beard, which was currently tied neatly with purple ribbon. Though his red eyes seemed closed, he was observing the room carefully. His haori rested on his shoulders over his Shihakusho and his wrinkled hands rested on a wood cane that hid his powerful zanpaktou.
"So what if we find that Kurosaki has found some new kind of power?" Spoke the Rokubantai Taicho, Kuchiki Byakuya. His black hair touched his shoulders, white hair pieces at the back of his head. His haori had been modified to have a collar, the edges lined with gold with small tassels at the corners. Steely gray eyes remained as calm as the rest of his face.
"Depending on what that power is, we will take whatever action is necessary." Yamamoto replied gravely. "While we owe Kurosaki a debt still, it does not mean he can perform any more illegal acts than he already has. Those were overlooked for the safety of the Soul Society and the humans of the Living World, but now that our immediate problems are gone, no more leniencies can be given."
Byakuya nodded, as did a few others, while a few bowed their heads sadly.
Just then, one of the Onmitsukido members appeared with Shunpo, immediately falling into a kneeling position in front of the Sou-Taicho.
"Your report?" Yamamoto questioned.
"Yes sir, the reiryoku seems to belong to that of a wolf."
"A wolf?" Hitsugaya Toshiro, Jubantai Taicho, looked at the man in disbelief.
"Yes sir. It seems to be just a puppy, but it's almost the size of a full grown dog. It was seen walking with the Shinigami Daikou, Kurosaki Ichigo, one of his younger sisters and the human, Inoue Orihime."
"What were they doing with this wolf?" Yamamoto questioned.
"They seemed to be playing with it." The Shinigami noticed Yamamoto look at him oddly. "The strangest bit was the pup could speak in Japanese. Also, I overheard the humans talking about a pack and wolf forms."
"Pack? There are more of them?" Kurotsuchi grinned, golden teeth flashing as he looked far more interested now.
"Yes sir, but the Shinigami Daikou acted like they were part of it."
"You said they mentioned wolf forms?" Toshiro questioned, his prodigy mind working quickly. "Is there a chance this wolf pup can turn others into wolves?"
"I-I don't know, I didn't see them do so." The man hunched slightly to avoid any harsh glances.
"Perhaps this pup has managed to sweet talk its way into the Kurosaki family." Soi Fon mused aloud. "Wouldn't be the first time Kurosaki let his hero complex get the better of him. This could spell trouble."
As the conversation turned to getting the wolf pup away from Ichigo and his family and friends, Rukia turned and caught the brown eyed gaze of another Fukutaicho across the lines. Abarai Renji, the tattoo covered red-head and Rokubantai Fukutaicho, nodded in a silent consensus. They were going to see Ichigo themselves soon to find out what was going on.
