Chapter 10
A/N: The chapter starts out kinda boring sorry about that. I am trying to pick of the pace of the story so I am flying through two months of training. Hang in there though; the end of the chapter is turning point of the story. I hope you enjoy. Please R/R.
Ichigo established a routine that lasted several weeks. Weekdays he would get up, eat breakfast with his family, and go to school. At school he would see his friends. Sometimes they would "need" to leave the classroom; but it no longer hurt him. The orangette knew soon he would be able to protect the people he loved.
Even though he was unable to spend as much time with his friends; Ichigo still learned a lot of stuff that had happened while he was depressed about losing his powers. And while he dealt with a certain enemy believed to be dead but suddenly in his life trying to help him of all things and for some unknown reason.
Orihime must have already known Ichigo was not interested in her when she had first told him. Because she did waste any time mourning his negative response or a broken heart. Ichigo almost fell out of his chair when Uryu told him they were now dating.
It always made Ichigo laugh watching Uryu try to step side his girlfriend's attempts to feed him. (Universal shudder)
Keigo, on the other hand, was annoying as ever. And Chad was just as steady. He was happy his friend was on the mend emotionally. Everyone else felt the same.
They all could see a slight change in his personality. The depression was gone. He was focusing on his school work again. Not just going through the motions. While no one knew the reason for the turn around; no one complained. Uryu made the assumption that Ichigo had readjusted to a normal life. No one argue the point. They were all happy because if anyone deserved a normal life it was Ichigo.
It was back to the way it was before Rukia crashed into all their lives. Except for Ichigo's work. He told his friends that he would be working at Urahara's shop. (Which in a way was true, Ichigo and Aizen helped around the shop sometimes.) Ichigo would go right after school and stay there until dinner. He was there all weekend too. The teen hated lying to his friends but somehow he trusted Aizen enough when he said they would be in danger.
The training was hard but Ichigo thrived on being tested to his limits. He always learned faster and better under pressure. The times spend in the underground training area were fast becoming Ichigo's favorite part of his day.
Each day was devoted to a different topic. One day they would focus on Hakuda, another history, another Zanjutsu, two days a week were about Kido since that would be Ichigo's toughest challenge. Saturday and Sunday were each devoted to two of the disciplines. The subjects were varied each weekend. But everyday the men would spar and practice Hoho. While Ichigo could not use Shunpo, Aizen began to build up his endurance by running. The two men would run for an hour. Aizen would steadily increase the pace each week.
Ichigo showed remarkable progress; he even surpassed Aizen's expectations of him.
Aizen had taught him the Soul Society's history, about some of the inner workings of the divisions and how the Soul Society operated.
Ichigo was a little apprehensive about learning Kido but Aizen was the kind of teacher that made learning easy. If Ichigo would be honest with himself he would say that hearing praise from his sensei made him work all the harder. But Ichigo ignored his inner voice that sounded a lot like Rukia nagging. But ignorance, it would seem, did not affect the results. By the end of two months Ichigo had learned most the incantations and gestures of kido.
On days when they would do Hakuda training, the older man would teach the teen some new moves and perfect already learned ones. The former Lord expected his pupil to incorporate the new moves during the next sparing match. Sosuke marveled at his student's learning capacity. 'If Ichigo were to participate in the Shinigami Academy he would graduate faster then Toshiro and Gin. The boy is a pure delight to teach and in more than one way.'
Since Ichigo was very accomplished in Zanjutsu, they mostly would spar to keep in practice. Aizen taught Ichigo kendo as well. On Hakuda and Zanjutsu days, the two men would heal in the pool before going home.
Kisuke would leave the two men alone for the most part. He would demand their assistance every so often. The shop keeper would always join them for lunch on the weekend; Aizen was convinced for the sole purpose of torturing him aka flirting with Ichigo. It all flew a mile over the berry's head. That fact comforted Sosuke but also concerned him. Did Ichigo know but ignore it or did he just not see how appealing he really was?
While Ichigo had plenty of time after dinner for whatever homework he had; he would occasionally seek help from Aizen. If Sosuke's pulse leaped, for joy at implications of trust forming, he gave no indication.
This pattern would repeat itself over the first two months of training. During that time Ichigo and Sosuke would find themselves opening up about their lives. Ichigo learned what it was like to be a Taicho and Aizen learned a lot about the World of the living.
If Ichigo's eyes glanced over his sensei more and more the former substitute Shinigami ignored it. If his insides grew warm at the sound of that velvet voice lecturing about history it was shoved away. If a smile would cross the lips of the usually scowling boy at the antics of the two former Taichos it was suppressed. If close contact occurred, the correlating uneven breathing were written off as resulting from physical activity. And any dreams featuring certain brown eyes and hair were purged in the morning.
One day Ichigo asked Aizen if the next Saturday training could be cancelled. He wished to spend some much need time with his friends and family. Aizen believed a break was beneficial to all. It was that fateful day which would change everything.
"Hey guys."
"Ichigo!" the boy's group of friends said in unison.
"We are so happy you got a day off of work." Orihime said.
"Yeah, Kisuke said I earned a break. How have things been?"
"Everything is fine." Uryu said in a matter-a-fact tone.
"Let's hope the Hollows stay home today. I would hate for anything to ruin our time together."
The group looked in shock at their orange-headed friend. It was the first time Ichigo had brought anything like that up. Ichigo, looking around the town, did not notice their gazes.
"So what movie are we going to see?"
Uryu recovered first. "There is a new action one. How about that?"
No one complained so off they went. After the movie, they grabbed lunch at their old favorite hang out spot. Everyone laughed when Orihime ordered something outrageously disgusting that the waitress did a double take.
Ichigo glanced around the table at some of the people closest to him in the world. Keigo was being tormented by Mizuiro. Chad was silently devouring his lunch. Tatsuki was laughing at Uryu trying not to shudder in horror at his girlfriend's food. Not for the first time Ichigo began to wonder about what will happen.
'What is this secret of Aizen's? And what does it have to do with me? Will it affect my friends and family? He has not given me the slightest clue no matter how many times I try to trick him into telling me. I wish I would regain my powers fast. The suspense is killing me. I wonder what it is. Will I hate him like he thinks I will? And what is Dad's connection to him? Kisuke I can understand but from what Sosuke…I mean Aizen has said he did not interact much with my day in the Soul Society. I know that goat face has seen Aizen's shikai but that is all. I hope I can keep everyone safe.'
The teen pushed his questions aside and concentrated on his friends. After lunch, they all parted ways. Ichigo was taking his sisters shopping and meeting their Dad for dinner later. As he waved good bye one last thought entered his head.
'I will protect them soon. They should be able to live their lives free from danger. I will make sure of it.'
"Come on Karen. Ichigo promised to buy us whatever we wanted."
"What? When did I say that?"
"But, Ichigo, we never get to see you anymore. You are always either at school or work. We miss you big brother."
Guilt poured over him, distracting him from the sly smile Yuzu gave Karen. Karen remained silent knowing her twin was a more skillful manipulator and she was too blunt for the job.
"All right you two. I'll get you whatever you want." The teen was blinded by the radiant smiles from his dear little sisters.
"Thank you Ichigo." Their sweet voices chimed together.
Yuzu raced ahead. "Come on. I want some stuff for the kitchen and I want to go to see if I can find a new stuffed animal." She paused considering her options. "I would like some new clothes too. Now where was that dress I saw the other day?"
Ichigo paled as his youngest sister rambled on and on. Karen took pity on her brother.
"She was playing you like an instrument, I hope you know. She is going to milk the guilt card for all its worth. She has worried about you so much lately."
Karen walked toward her twin, whistling, leaving her dumbfounded older brother.
'Yuzu, my sweet, gentle, kind, cute, and loveable little sister playing me?'
A heavy familiar hand clamped down on his shoulder. "Our sweet little one is just like her mother. My beloved Masaki manipulated me many times. She steered me to marriage and toward kids, everything. As soon as I realized Yuzu looked just like her I began praying that she would not inherit her mother's personality. Oh well, good luck my son."
With a final pat, Isshin ran for the hills before the girls spotted him, thus entangling him in their trap with his son. He tossed something over his shoulder as he disappeared. "Don't forget we are meeting at 5. Don't be late."
With his father's words and speedy retreat snapping him out of his daze; Ichigo ran to his sisters.
"Hey, I said I would only get one thing. I don't make that much money." In fact the teen was just happy that pervert paid him at all. 'I mean it is not like I actually work there. I do stuff sometimes, I guess.'
"But Ichigo I want some new clothes. But I need new soccer shoes and I saw a cool soccer ball in the store. Please get it for me." Without waiting for an answer, Karen continued. "Come on Yuzu, you know he will buy us what we want anyway."
"Ok, where to first." The twins dashed off laughing as their beloved big brother chased after them fussing up a storm.
As the boy rounded the corner he slammed on his brakes. The sight before his eyes was haunting, tearing into his heart. Suddenly anger overwhelmed the pain. His eyes flashed and he unconsciously growled deep in his chest. 'How dare he? How dare he?' Repeated over and over in his fury filled mind. The scene continued playing before him, taunting him. As he was frozen in place, his fist curled so tightly his nails bit into the skin drawing blood. His breath was shallow and he growled with each one. He had visions of flying across the street to wrangle with that man. But his sister's voices lifted the haze of rage. His bloodlust-filled eyes narrowed silently promising retribution and pain as he walked away.
Across the street a man shivered, wondering at the sudden chill on such a warm beautiful day. Looking around but seeing no one, he went on his way.
The next day, Sosuke pretended not to be in a hurry to go down and see his beloved student. Walking around the training room, the man wondered if Kisuke had told him the truth. Aizen did not see Ichigo in the usual spot they would met at. The former Shinigami Taicho froze as he found his student.
Ichigo was standing facing him with his head down and hair covering his face. What had stopped the other in his tracks was the dark aura surrounding the boy.
Deciding to ignore his instinct to run, the older man called out. "Good morning Ichigo. You are here early this morning."
Silence was all the answered him. Coming closer, the brunette could see that the orangette was shaking. Concern swept away the uncertainty.
"Ichigo is everything ok? Are your friends and family alright? What is wrong?"
The pain-filled voice shocked him.
"Wrong? Nothing is wrong."
"No clearly something is. Now what is it?"
Ichigo moved toward Aizen slowly, never lifting his head. Aizen could feel something stirring in the youth straining to come out. Ichigo suddenly invaded Sosuke's bubble, grabbing his shirt still not looking at him.
"How dare you ask if anything is wrong? You are what is wrong. I can't believe I had faith in you. If I had my powers now you would have been dead before you even took one step down here. I hate you. I hate you so much."
Aizen's heart sank deep in the ocean of despair. Everything he feared was happening but it was too soon. He had told Ichigo nothing yet. 'Unless Isshin…no he would wait until Ichigo was ready. Kisuke would not either as much as he doesn't like me. Then what happened to make him feel this way.'
"Ichigo please tell me what I did wrong. I didn't do anything. I promise. I don't understand…"
"I saw you do it." Ichigo roared at him still refusing to look at him.
Aizen scanned his brain for information. Everything on the last day they saw each other was normal. Ichigo wasn't angry when he left; he was happy.
"You don't know do you?"
"No, I don't."
"I saw you. I saw you yesterday. I saw you with her. With that woman." Ichigo finally looked into those chocolate eyes.
The tears welling up and the pure pain in those amber eyes had Aizen unable to process Ichigo's words for a few moments. "Wh…What….What woman?" He stuttered entranced by the swirling pain and fury.
"The woman you were flirting with yesterday." Ichigo's voice calmed down.
Before Sosuke could think about what happened yesterday, ice cold lips latched onto his own. 'Huh?'
A/N: Sorry my friends to torture…I mean leave you with such a cliff hanger. Please forgive me. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. The end part was fun to write and flowed really well. Let me know what you think. I will post the next chapter sometime soon. Until then good bye.
Nicole