A Family and A Clan
Ichigo stood on the small balcony at the rear of the Shiba house, a small table and a couple of chairs being the only furnishing on balcony. He looked over the edge into the seas far below him, the house was situated on the arch of Solitude meaning that directly below the streets here was the churning tides.
It wasn't really what he'd consider comfortable. Being suspended high above freezing waters by a natural rock arch which could collapse any moment. He sent a long glance to the night sky, under the moon light he felt at home not inside a stone home.
His reintroduction to his family had gone well, all things considered but the night had approached quickly and their time getting to know one another had ended when Yuzu had begun to doze off alerting them to how much time had passed. Masaki had sent the girls to their room and he and Yoruichi had been offered the guest room.
The room wasn't much, just an old storage room in the basement refurbished to be a twin bedroom that they offered to guests. Kaien and Kukaku left, apparently having their own home elsewhere within the city.
The small room given to him and Yoruichi was nice enough, much nicer than his tent that he called home within the grotto... but he wasn't able to sleep. Surrounded by strong stone walls and being in an unfamiliar house left him feeling trapped.
Sure, the room was much nicer than a tent, but you could always rip your way out of a tent and escape if you needed. Something he was unable to do with a stone wall. He knew he wasn't trapped but he felt like he was in a prison, so he left for some fresh air.
He sat in one of the chairs as he leaned his blades up against the small table and placed the bow atop the table with the quiver of arrows next to it. He wouldn't leave his weapons laying around without him near. After all Karin was still on the prowl for a blade.
He took a deep breath and allowed himself to slowly exhale, in hopes of ridding himself of at least some stress. Feeling the slight breeze and cold air wasn't the easiest to rest in but it was much more comfortable than feeling trapped.
'I wonder what Sajin and Chad are doing...' He mused, if he was to guess they'd still be resting. The Frostmoon pack would be happy enough to pull their slack, hopefully they would do the same when he left to help Rukia.
'The Frostmoon pack have yet to be assigned an area so this shouldn't burden them too much.' He reasoned. Plus he was sure they'd be happy to be getting some more important work than what they'd had so far. With them still being new Tia has been keeping them on easier tasks to gauge their strength and to help them adapt to the new area. With them picking up the slack they had time to prove their strength.
The sound of little footsteps caught his attention, in the silence of night he could just about hear inside the Shiba house where he listened to the sound drawing closer. He frowned, his family shouldn't be awake this late.
Soon enough the footsteps reached the doorway, slowly the door was pushed open and a small head popped around the side revealing the worried face of Yuzu. When she made eye contact she smiled and seemed to relax.
"You should be asleep, what are you doing up?" Ichigo asked as she walked out in only her sleeping gown. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration as she walked over to him and slapped him on his arm, though as expected there wasn't any true malice behind it.
"I was worried, Karin and I sleep with the window open and I heard you moving around out here... I thought you were leaving again." She scolded as she took the seat across from him and moving it closer to him before sitting with him.
"...Ah, sorry for worrying you. I couldn't sleep so I came out for some fresh air, you should go back to sleep you were very tired earlier." Ichigo stated, she wasn't dressed for being outside in the cold. At least he had his cloak to keep him warm. She vigorously shook her head.
"I fell to sleep earlier so I didn't get as much time to talk to you, I want to know about you too." She reasoned doing her best to suppress a shiver as a particularly cold breeze passed them. He had to suppress a smile as he saw her trying to put on a tough face, not something she could manage with the innocence that radiated from her.
He stood pulling off the Shihoin cloak and throwing it over her in an attempt to at least lessen her discomfort if she was going to be stubborn. Grateful she covered herself with the cloak which was many sizes too big for her.
"Won't you be cold?" She asked, pulling the cloak up to cover some of her face. He shook his head with a slight smile.
"Don't worry about it, I've lived out doors a long time so a bit of cold is nothing new." He reasoned as he turned to look over the balcony to the waters once again. He'd slept through storms and freezing winters in the wild, something like tonight wasn't much of a concern.
"So you don't have a house?" She asked curiously, again he shook his head.
"I have a tent, which I'm not even at most the time. I spend a lot of time away on requests or hunts so I've spent a lot of time sleeping in caves or just under a tree, so something like this is still very new to me." He admitted.
"Don't you get scared that you'll be attacked as you sleep?" She asked. Being attacked as you sleep was a danger, but he usual had a good idea of what to expect in an area before he decided to sleep, and very rarely was he ever alone.
"If I'm with someone we take shifts keeping watch, plus we usually know what's in the area before we rest." He replied, leaving out the parts about wolves and their sense of smell making it hard for people to sneak up on him.
She seemed to hang of his every word, he could see that she was tired but she was trying her best to keep awake for him. She seemed to be stubborn in her own little way.
"So why couldn't you sleep? Did you have a nightmare?" She continued causing him to be silent for a few moments as he figured out how to reply to her. She might not like the truth but he didn't think he should lie any more than he already has.
"I don't do very well in doors, like I said I spend most nights outdoors. I feel like I'm being trapped when I'm in such a sturdy building too long." He admitted as he ran his hand through his hair. "Sometimes I spend a night in an inn and I can somewhat bare it but never more than a short nap. Even at Ganju's I only managed to stay indoors so long thanks to my injuries leaving me unconscious."
"Like claustrophobia?" She asked getting a half-hearted shrug in return.
"Maybe, when I was... younger I spent most my time in a cage with no freedom to even stretch my arms. Then I was rescued and I was suddenly as free as I could ever hope, I think I just struggle returning to an environment like that cage." Ichigo replied uneasy, admitting weakness was not something he enjoyed.
"So the house makes you feel restrained?" She continued causing him to nod. It was something he didn't need to face often, but recently it's been out of his control like the trip on Kaien's ship, he couldn't calm himself or relax no matter how hard he tried.
"Sorry to bring it up." She apologised looking somewhat dejected probably thinking she'd upset him. He was quick to ease her concerns.
"You have nothing to apologise for... I just wanted to be honest, I didn't want you thinking I was leaving. I'm just going to spend the night out here I think, I need get Karin her training blade tomorrow so it'll be easier for me to leave early and do that out here." Ichigo stated maintaining a cheerful smile.
"She's going to be ecstatic! Mum won't be though..." Yuzu stated suppressing a yawn as her eyes drooped for a second. Ichigo frowned, while he was happy to be speaking with her, he didn't want to keep her awake.
"You should really go to sleep, we can speak more tomorrow." Ichigo reasoned as she looked like she was about to nod off any second. Reluctantly she nodded, while she was a bit stubborn she wasn't stupid, at best she'd last another few minutes before falling to sleep again.
"Okay... I'll see you tomorrow then?" She asked standing up and unwrapping the cloak from herself to hand back to Ichigo. She stood by the door waiting to hear his reply before she retreated into
"Of course, goodnight."
Dawn was a little while away, but Ichigo was already making his way to his first job of the day. Getting Karin her training blade. He thought it'd be nice to have it for her when she woke up, that and he didn't want to be sitting around for hours waiting for his family to wake up.
Places like Blacksmiths tended to open much earlier so they could ready their forges for the work day so with any luck the blacksmith would be open already.
As he walked he noted the streets were completely dead, not even a peep from the homes reaffirming his belief that people weren't waking up yet. As he made his way closer to the blacksmith at the foot of Castle Dour he noted that serval soldiers were running about with torches lighting their way.
'Has something happened?' He mused to himself. Some of the soldiers looked distraught and other panicked or worried. He discreetly smelled the air but he didn't notice and scents of battle such as blood or burning in the air meaning there hadn't been a fight within the city.
He tried not to draw their gaze as he walked up to the Blacksmith's shop, which was currently being guarded by two soldiers. He stopped in front of them with a slight frown, both stood in front of the door locking him from entering.
"Halt, any business you have with Beirand should be taken up with him later, he's busy with a new order right now." One of the guards stated causing Ichigo to throw a glance over his shoulder spotting an imperial courier running up the steps in to the castle. Again the panic was clear.
"The new order got something to do with why everyone's running around like headless chickens? What's happened?" Ichigo asked, if Solitude was in danger he'd have to help, if only for his family. The guards exchanged glances before speaking up.
"It'll be public knowledge by sunrise anyway, an imperial encampment was just wiped out. A few survivors arrived a few hours ago to inform us." One guard stated his strict posture leaving him as he spoke.
"But why is that causing everyone to panic? I mean I understand it's not the best situation but it's not enough to warrant such panic." Ichigo responded with a frown, he was obviously missing something.
"Aye, wouldn't be this bad, but it was our largest camp in Dawnstar meaning there is very few men stopping the Stormcloaks from marching to Morthal. This new order is to equip more troops to send to reinforce the Jarls men there." The second guard supplied with a heavy sigh, again the first guard spoke up.
"They're saying The Miracle was the one to lead the march onto the encampment which is only adding to his legend." He said getting a nod from his partner.
'The Miracle? He said it as if it was a name.' Ichigo mused to himself with a slight frown. 'But the loss of a crucial encampment is bad, especially is it means there's an open route into Morthal.' He continued.
"If they have an open path now I wonder if they plan on attacking soon... I wonder if Idgrod has a plan." He mused quietly, the guards only just picking up on his words.
"You from Morthal? You shouldn't worry, the general will be sending as many men as he can spare to counter this push." The first guard reassured, causing Ichigo to shake his head.
"No I'm not from Morthal, I guess I'm just friends with Idgrod." Ichigo stated not wanting to mention being a thane, it wasn't in his nature to brag. The guards just nodded.
"Either way Beirand can't take on anymore orders right now. I hope you understand." The second guard stated.
"The order I want isn't large, I just need a couple training blades for my sister. I would just carve her a wooden one but that won't help her get used to the weight of a blade." Ichigo replied hoping they'd reconsider.
"Hm... well I guess we can at least check if he has any spares hanging around. You got payment?" The guard asked Ichigo was quick to fish out a ruby from his pocket and passed it over to the guard. The guard looked somewhat startled for a second as he looked between the gemstone and Ichigo.
"Are you rich or something kid?" He asked getting a slight scowl from Ichigo.
"Somewhat, can you just check for the training blade? You can have whatever change is left over." Ichigo replied, if the guard was going to make money as well then he was more likely to get the job done.
With a quick nod the guard retreated into the blacksmith getting a slight laugh from the second guard. Ichigo leant back against the wall as he listened to the conversation going on inside, it took a few minutes but the guard began emerging from the Blacksmith with two short single-handed blades.
Well, it wasn't really a blade as it was more of a dull slab of iron on the end on a sword hilt. It'd never be able to cut anything but it at least allowed people to practice with the weight of a full blade. The man handed it over to Ichigo.
"This is the only types he has, will they do?" He asked getting a nod from Ichigo who took them gratefully.
"Yeah thanks, she can happily start her training now. Thanks again, I'll see ya around." Ichigo said as he held both blades in his hands and turned away from them. Now he just needed to head back to the Shiba house.
He was careful not to get in the way of the other soldiers that were still going about their jobs to get support to Dawnstar as soon as possible.
It was only as he began to cross the grave area that he spotted the light on the horizon, he stopped for a second to admire the view of light spilling into the streets. But as his eyes washed over the tombstones within the walled gravesite he remembered what Kaien had said to him during their trip together.
'He said he'd buried me once already...' Ichigo thought to himself as he postponed his trip home to instead have a quick look into his curiosity.
He stepped into the graveyard and instantly started reading of names etched into them, and it didn't take long for him to spot his name. A small tombstone etched with his name, and the dates of his birth and 'death'.
"Ichigo Shiba, eldest beloved child of Isshin and Masaki Shiba taken before his time due to the evils of those who lack humanity and empathy." He read to himself as he knelt before the modest grave. He mused what they buried since they didn't have a body to bury.
He stood from his kneeling position with a firm frown... his family had really suffered thinking he was dead... He was snapped out his thoughts when he heard foot steps behind him, he tossed quick glance over his should reveal Kaien stood a few feet behind him with a matching frown.
"You okay? Masaki thought you'd run off again." Kaien stated coming to stand beside his cousin. For a minute they both stood in silence.
"I was selfish, wasn't I?" Ichigo asked finally as his hands gripped around the training blades firmly.
"You didn't remember... you can't be blamed for that." Kaien answered back instantly his eyes not leaving the grave.
"...That shouldn't be an excuse, after I was freed I should have known that out there somewhere I had a family that were grieving me... I was just too drunk on the idea of freedom that I didn't even consider it." Ichigo admitted, after he was saved that's all he wanted his freedom. That and to prove himself to those that had believed in him to be greater than he was.
"...We should head back to the house, don't want them to start sending out search parties." Kaien stated patting Ichigo on this shoulder as they made to leave the graveyard.
"I'd hoped to get back before they woke, I took longer than I thought I would getting these training blades for Karin." Ichigo stated holding up the dull blades. Kaien smiled and slung an arm around his cousin's shoulder.
"You know you've signed yourself up for training her right? And there's no way she's not going to start today." Kaien stated with a grin causing Ichigo to raise an eyebrow.
"I mean... I can train her today but after that I'll have to leave it to dad, he's had formal training so he'd be better for it anyway." Ichigo responded while trying to shrug off his cousin's arm from his shoulder.
"Just today? Are you leaving tomorrow?" He asked suddenly serious as he pulled his arm away. Ichigo warily nodded knowing it won't go over well.
"You can't stretch out your visit for at least a few days?" Kaien asked.
"Not realistically... it's as I stated yesterday, I have responsibilities elsewhere... It's like you and your ship, you have responsibilities to your sailors just as I do my friends. I have that job to do for Rukia, and then I could have a pile of jobs waiting to be done when I'm done from that..." Ichigo admitted, it was unlikely he'd be able to visit for at least a month.
"Well at the very least you'll have to write to let us know you're alive. When do you plan on leaving?" Kaien asked.
"Was thinking of hitting the road tonight, then I have some time to visit the hunters camp before I go to meet Rukia. I left my friends to debrief the hunters on our attack against the vampires but I'm sure they'd want to hear it from me as well." Ichigo stated causing his cousin to sigh in annoyance.
"Well we'd best make the most of our time then. So you have a boss then? I thought it'd be less formal than that but the way you speak makes it sounds like you have a hierarchy with the hunters." Kaien noted getting a nod of confirmation.
"It's mainly out of respect, Tia, the one who formed the group is the one we all answer to. She's proven herself many times over so we have no reason not to follow her, but we also have our own little groups like the Frostmoon hunters that you brought back from Solsthiem mainly work together. Even I have gained a small group without realising it, but we all know our place." He replied, somehow he'd recruited Chad and Sajin into his own little pack before he realised he was doing it.
"So you're a higher up then? Or is there just a lot of smaller groups working together?" Kaien asked, he'd never really been able to guess the numbers of these mysterious hunters but the more he heard about it the more it sounded like they were pretty large in numbers.
'A higher up?' Ichigo mused. He was Hircine's champion in a band of hunters known as the Hunters of Hircine, but at the same time he didn't have to experience that most of the other hunters did... he seemed to at least have to respect of the other hunters and wolves but that didn't equate to being higher up in the chain of command.
"I'm favoured I guess? Not sure is that means I'm a higher up or not." He reasoned slightly unsure of his position. "As for the groups within our band, there's not many. The Frostmoon hunters, Tia's Tres Bestia and my own little group, but there's many hunters which don't really fit into any of the groups." He continued, the three main groups not including all the smaller packs of wolves that protect certain areas.
"What about you? I surprised you were even here when I arrived, I was under the impression you spent most of you time at sea with your own little group yet it seems you've been on land since you arrived back in Solitude." Ichigo asked, they'd spoken at length about how much Kaien enjoyed being at sea compared to being on land so it was strange for him to being landbound so long.
"Works been a lot more dangerous lately, pirates are on the rise and if I were to hire mercenaries for protection then I'd barely be making enough profit to justify sailing in the first place. Not to mention that most mercenaries aren't the most trustworthy and could backstab us at any moment. For now, it's just too dangerous so I've been helping with land-based trade instead." Kaien replied frowning deeply, clearly unhappy with the situation.
'So the pirates we faced on the way to Solsthiem weren't a one off then? He must be bored to death stuck on land...' Ichigo thought to himself.
"What sort of things do you trade over land? Dad told me about the Vineyard but that's all I know really." Wine couldn't be all his family dealt in, not to be as high prestige as they were. Kaien smirked proudly.
"Here in Skyrim? Not much. We have a few trades with Morthal and Markarth but the majority of our trading is done in Cyrodiil. Ganju rears horses on his farm and sells them on, then he also raises his boars as well as selling produce from his farm. Kukaku deals in fabrics and sometimes spices, she has friends in Hammerfell which gives her good prices. Then of course Isshin sells his wine and produce from a few smaller farms." Kaien recited clearly proud of his family's work.
"That's ridiculous... our hunt barely keeps up with selling game and hides to Whiterun and Falkreath." Ichigo replied clearly dumfounded at the amount of work his family do. Kaien laughed it off.
"That's just the immediate family as well, then there's lands that Uncle Isshin owns which brings in its own income. It's a lot of paper work but Isshin has it under control, no matter how much he complains." Kaien added which only caused Ichigo more confusion as to how his idiot of a father managed to lead the family.
"You've got all this to look forward to, after all you're the Heir now right?" Kaien asked with a smirk, apparently having no hard feelings over the fact. Ichigo glanced away with a slight frown.
"Not if I can help it, I don't want anything to do with that. Too far outside of my comfort zone, paper work, meeting other snobby ass nobles and sitting around in luxury is my version of torture. I'd much rather you kept the Heir title." Ichigo replied easily, tying himself down to luxury would no doubt drive him insane.
"You'd get used to it, the family would help until you were get the hang of it." Kaien replied waving his hand in dismissal of his concerns. Ichigo huffed, it was pretty much what Isshin had said.
"Don't you want to be heir? Surely you realise you're more fit for it?" Ichigo argued, was this just some false modesty or was he seriously okay with losing the title and the benefits that came with it. With this family Ichigo had a hard time of telling.
"You still think of us like we're the same as other noble clans. Family is first no matter what, we're not the types to fight each other for power and wealth. As it is I think most of the family would be happy as long as they lived a comfortable life, it's the same for me. Leading the family is different from leading the clan." Kaien replied calmly as he rested his hands behind his head as they walked.
"What do you mean? The clan and the family are the same thing." Ichigo replied confused and slightly annoyed at the carefree attitude about something as important as this.
"Leading the family is making sure that everyone is happy and safe, and as long as that's the case wealth or standing don't really matter. Leading the clan however is vying for higher and higher control, wealth or social standing. Sure, we do what we can to improve our clan but only if it doesn't mean causing conflict within the family. That's where we diverge from other clans, the simple fact that we're more than happy with what we have." Kaien stated with a smile.
It took a few moments before Ichigo realised he'd stopped mid step. Kaien seemed sincere about his statements, Ichigo slowly realised that the more he learned about his family the more he failed to understand them... but he could at least admire them.
"So if the only thing that matters is that the family are happy and safe, why is it such a big deal that I take on being heir rather than you? All I've managed to do is caused people stress and made them grieve unjustly." Ichigo replied as he slowly began his walk again, Kaien matching his pace.
"That's what you think? Let me put it this way, Isshin worked hard all his life, harder than most people are capable of and he did that to make sure his kids had something after he was gone. He wants you to take his seat because that's what he's worked for, if I took it now that you've been found alive I wouldn't be stealing it from you, I'd be stealing his years of hard work and his wish. So in a way it's not even for you, but for Isshin." Kaien stated.
'...For my dad?' Ichigo didn't understand at first, maybe because he didn't have kids. 'In other words, even after dad is gone they want to respect his wishes...' He concluded, biting his cheek slightly the more he thought into it.
"...Damn, if it's like you said then when it was brought up I just threw all those years of hard work in his face without a second thought when I rejected it." Ichigo realised with no small amount of guilt, he thought back to the strained features on his dad's face when they'd spoken about it and it made a bit more sense now.
"So you'll accept the position then? I doubt any of the family is going to argue against it." Kaien asked getting no reply for a few moments as Ichigo thought it over. Eventually, Ichigo shrugged with a heavy sigh.
"… I don't know, I'll think about it. There's a lot you don't know about me... I'll talk to my dad about it before I leave though." Ichigo relented, at least considering the option unlike before. Kaien seemed happy enough with that.
They finally reached the doors to the Shiba house, Kaien walking in first with Ichigo a few steps behind him. As soon as they entered he was met with the stern glare of Masaki who stood next to the table with her hands on her hips.
"I told you he didn't run off!" Yuzu chided her mother from her seat at the table, Karin sat next to her. Across from them Kukaku sat with Isshin as they ate some breakfast. Masaki didn't seem to hear Yuzu as her attention was focused on solely glaring at Ichigo.
"And where have you been? We were worried when you weren't here this morning, I'd thought you'd left again." Masaki stated her voice scolding. He raised the training blades in his hand and gave her a small apologetic smile.
"I woke up pretty early so I thought I'd grab these before you all woke up, but I was held up at the blacksmiths." He replied getting an instant reaction from Karin as she smiled slightly at the sight of the dulled blades.
"These for me?" She asked as he walked over to the table placing them in front of her. His mother rolled her eyes slightly, clearly trying to suppress her displeasure of the thought of her daughter using swords.
"Yeah, I thought I could teach you the basics a bit later, if you want that is." Ichigo said nervously scratching his chin, he really wasn't used to this sibling thing yet. Karin nodded her smiling widening a bit.
"Did you sleep okay Ichi?" Yuzu asked, slight concern in her voice. He nodded with a smile to her, finding it somewhat sweet that she worried about him. She was almost too kind for her own good, almost.
"I slept fine, I told you'd I'd be fine." He stated waving of her concerns. After all it was the only way he was going to get any sleep since he couldn't stand being cooped up inside. She puffed out her cheeks.
"You shouldn't sleep outside, you could get a cold! I'm sure we could find somewhere more comfortable for you." She replied obviously not happy with his situation. He wasn't sure if it was possible for a younger sibling to be a mother hen, but if it was then she was most definitely a mother hen. He couldn't really mention to her that he couldn't get sick anymore thanks to his beast blood.
"You slept outside? Was something wrong?" Isshin asked concerned. Ichigo assumed Yuzu had told them when they thought he was missing, looks like that wasn't the case.
"It's nothing to worry about... It's something I'll get over eventually." He replied not really wanting to get into it all over again, plus it wasn't something he really enjoyed admitting.
"If there was something bothering you should have told us, what will you do tonight? Will you be okay to sleep inside tonight?" Masaki asked causing Ichigo to flinch... he wouldn't be here tonight. Luckily Kaien spoke up.
"You were feeling trapped and you couldn't relax, right?" He asked thought he seemed to already know getting a confused look from Ichigo, he hadn't mentioned it to his cousin.
"How'd you guess that?" Ichigo asked, sure he wasn't happy it being out in the air but he was more curious about how his cousin had guessed.
"You were the same on the trip to Solstheim and back, you couldn't sit still and you had trouble sleeping back then as well. You paced so much I thought you were going to burn a hole in my hull, I've never seen someone leave a ship so quick." Kaien stated causing Ichigo to silently berate himself at being so easily read.
"I don't really want to get into it... I'm just more comfortable outdoors than indoors." Ichigo replied, hoping they'd drop the subject. Kaien simply nodded in understanding but Masaki on the other hand looked like she wanted to press, though thankfully decided not to.
"So can you teach me now or what?" Karin complained, though she tried to hide it he could hear the excitement in her voice as she gripped the blade.
"Hm, I guess so." Ichigo picked up the other dull blade and resting it on his shoulders. "Let's get some space."
He swatted her blade to the side as she came in with a wild swing and pressed forward, jabbing the tip of the dull blade into her shoulder with enough force to push her back a couple steps. She was using both hands in her strikes to help her heft the weight of the blade as she took a step forward and swung her blade down, only for it to once again be met with her brothers own as he clashed blades before allowing hers to slide of his sending her stumbling forward.
He caught her with his other hand as she fell forward, she was quickly tiring and her strikes were becoming wild and slow. He could tell by looking at her that she'd need a break soon, her arms were no doubt aching and her breaths were heavy.
They'd been sparring for almost an hour and she'd been confident at first, but she seemed to be realising now that wielding a sword wouldn't be as easy as she thought. Isshin, Kukaku and Yuzu watched form the side lines. Yuzu shouting encouragement to her younger sibling.
They had moved the tables and chairs off to the side of the balcony as the sparred, it wasn't much space but it was enough for a simple spar.
"Do you want to continue?" Ichigo asked. Karin slowly got back into stance, he could see her struggling to hold the blade, her hands shaking and her posture slumped. Before they could start again Isshin spoke up.
"Have a break for now, you could hurt yourself if you push your body to far." He stated, Karin seemed like she wanted to protest but before she could Ichigo placed a hand on her shoulder.
"He's right, you'll be no good if you end up hurting yourself and mum takes away your training blades." He reasoned as her led her over to the table where the others sat. Karin sat heavily in a chair her body obviously aching all over.
"Are you sure this is the best way to teach her Ichigo?" Isshin asked with slight tension in his voice, obviously not a fan. Ichigo shrugged as he put down the dull blade and sat on the banister of the balcony. Yuzu was quick to give her sister some water.
"I've never taught someone to fight before. I'm just going about it how I was trained." He replied honestly, he had no idea what he was doing, he didn't ever bother learning how others trained.
"You were trained like this? Seems a bit harsh doesn't it?" Kukaku asked with a raised brow.
"Well kind of. They just tossed me a blade and told me to fight back, got my ass kicked for years until I was able to put up a fight, then I was sent against bandits and the sort. I guess it was pretty harsh but it worked." Ichigo replied.
Tia had been brutal, she claimed that if he wanted to be strong then he shouldn't hesitate to take the hard road to learning. For the first few months he was convinced she was some kind of sadist, every night he would find himself beaten and bruised but by the end of his training he realised that he'd been adapting and learning while defending.
"I guess that explains why your style was all over the place when you fought. You learned to fight reactionary rather than pre-emptively, which isn't a bad thing, it taught you to be able to read peoples moves I suppose." Isshin noted, Ichigo did seem to have a good reaction time from what he'd observed in Morthal.
Ichigo glanced around the table, Yuzu was still fussing over Karin while Isshin sat and watched. Kukaku on the other hand only seemed to be outside to enjoy the fresh air and a drink. Ichigo carefully looked at Kukaku's prosthetic arm, he wasn't sure how or when she'd lost her arm, he didn't feel comfortable asking.
"It's rude to stare you know." Kukaku complained causing him to go ridged as he noted she'd seen him looking out the corner of her eyes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to... I was curious how it happened." He apologised causing her to scoff slightly and roll her eyes.
"You don't have to worry, it wasn't some traumatic event or anything. I was testing out a spell and it blew up early, arm had to be amputated. Doesn't really matter, I still have my other arm." Kukaku stated casually causing him to cringe slightly. An arm getting blow off wasn't a big deal?
"I didn't realise you were a mage." He stated, really unsure how to respond to her. She shrugged slightly as she took another drink from her clay cup.
"Shiba's have a few spells that have been passed down, mainly ones to turn stone to sand, Ganju's pretty good at that one. I was always good at fireworks, casting fireballs into the sky which explode into different patterns and colours. Party tricks mostly, but fun nonetheless. I tried to make a new one but I rushed and it backfired. I was trying to show off to some nobles in Hammerfell, that's what I get I suppose." She explained seemingly uncaring at her missing limb. Ichigo wasn't sure if he'd ever understand her mindset, but at the very least he respected her for it. He tried to move the conversation on to brighter subjects.
"Where'd Yoruichi run off to anyway?" He asked glancing to his father.
"Ah, she left just after you came out here with Karin. She's off to visit a mutual friend of ours called Kisuke, he's kind of a hermit but he's helpful to have as a friend. She was only meant to be in Skyrim for a short visit but I dragged her into the search for you so her maid will be coming looking for her soon." Isshin replied.
"Her maid?" Ichigo questioned, the way his father had said maid made him think there was something more to it.
"Her name's Soi Fon. She's technically a maid or servant, her family have served the Shihoin clan for generations but Soi Fon is more like Yoruichi's apprentice rather than a maid. She's really overprotective of Yoruichi so there's little doubt she's already on her way here." Isshin explained, Kukaku chuckled slightly.
"No doubt she'll come here then head to Kisuke's shop... that could turn out bad." Kukaku mused. "Soi Fon doesn't really get on with Kisuke... well I don't think anyone other than Yoruichi actually gets on with him, but Soi Fon hates him and the ground he walks on." She continued getting a slight laugh from Isshin.
"Well that's not our problem, I'm sure Yoruichi won't let her kill him so it should be fine." Isshin replied unconcerned at his supposed friend's health. Ichigo simply sighed, nothing could be simple.
The day went on, Isshin took over the training so that he could teach Karin the basic instead of letting her start blind like Ichigo had opted to do. Yuzu had stayed to watch and cheer on her sister while Kukaku had retreated back into the house after a while.
Isshin training was much more formal, practicing sword strikes as he lectured her on the proper etiquette. It was vastly different from anything he'd ever do, it's just not how he was trained. They continued till past noon, at which time Masaki forced them to call it quits for the day and forcing them inside for a meal.
It was only a simple stew, but to Ichigo it tasted of Sovngarde. He was never the best of cooks... and really neither were any of the other hunters. Sometimes, when Sung sun cooked the meals they be pretty good but they took turns for cooking and when it was Apacci's turn the food was barely edible. That wasn't to say his cooking was much better.
Around the table was his sisters and his parents, Kaien and Kukaku apparently having gone to their own home instead for a meal. Masaki was leading a conversation with Karin, once again asking if it was necessary for her to be wanting swords.
"Ichi, would you like to come to the market with me tomorrow?" Yuzu asked from her seat across the table. It was an innocent request but it only made Ichigo feel bad when he realised he couldn't push off telling them he was leaving any longer.
"… I won't be able to, I'm leaving today." He stated as he looked down at his food. The silence around the table made him cringe when he could feel the gaze of everyone turn to him.
"… Has something come up?" Isshin asked, his voice wasn't critical nor angry which was an immense relief.
"I've been away from the hunters too long. I haven't spoken with them since I left to go to Morthal, I have no idea what's happening there. They could need my help, plus I have to make sure someone is able to cover for me and Chad when we go to aid Rukia. Sajin won't be able to pick up our slack alone." Ichigo started.
"And on top of that I was speaking to some guards this morning and apparently the Stormcloaks have a direct path to attack Morthal. I need to send a message to Idgrod asking if she'll need aid since I'm her Thane. There's a lot I've got to do and not much time to do it..." Ichigo reasoned, he couldn't really use a human courier since they'd never be able to find him in the wild if she were to reply so he'd need to use a wolf to send the message.
"...Well you'd best visit the first chance you get. If you take too long I'll be sending out a search party again." Isshin stated, causing Ichigo to smirk slightly as he looked to his father.
"It won't be necessary, plus I promised Kaien I'd keep in touch with letters while I'm away. If it makes you feel reassured then I promise to return when I first get some free time." Ichigo replied which seemed to pacify his father, his mother on the other hand didn't look pleased.
"What will you do if you're called to aid Morthal?" Masaki asked. Ichigo rubbed his neck as he thought about how to answer... he would aid Idgrod, but he wouldn't drag down the rest of his pack to the fight as well.
"They are already sending more troops to reinforce Morthal, so it probably wouldn't be needed on the front lines but Idgrod has shown me loyalty so it's only fair I do the same so I'd go to her side and keep her safe." Ichigo replied, he would protect her and her family... it's what she'd done for him by keeping his secret.
Masaki frowned slightly, obviously not wanting him to be in a fight. She was too peaceful. Or at the very least too protective.
"So you're leaving dad to take care of my training?" Karin asked getting a nod from Ichigo.
"We already saw that my ways of teaching aren't really suited, if you're learning from dad then you'll be able to have a form of swordsmanship instead of just reacting and adapting. I'll be sure to test you when I return." Ichigo stated getting the smallest trace of a smile from her.
"You'll be careful?" Yuzu pressed worried. He offered a small smile, being careful wasn't really in his line of work, but if it meant putting her at ease he'd be willing to try.
"Of course, I'll not take unnecessary risks." He promised, he just hoped he'd not be made a liar by the time he returned.
"Fine, I guess you can go..." Yuzu muttered as her cheeks puffed slightly a sign she wasn't entirely happy with the situation. Ichigo turned to his father before he spoke next.
"I was hoping to talk to you and Kaien before I leave." Ichigo stated causing his father to raise an eyebrow, nonetheless Isshin nodded.
"We'll go after we've had our meal. Until then eat up, if you're heading out tonight then you should leave on a full stomach." Isshin replied getting a nod from his son as they both went back to their food.
He would relish in these last few hours with his family, then he had work to do.
Kaien walked out of the front most gate of Solitude, he spotted Ichigo and Isshin stood by the roadside. Ichigo was leaning against a tree while Isshin spoke with crossed arms. The sun was finally starting to set for the night. They noticed him approaching and were quick to wave him over.
"Bout time, we've been waiting ages." Isshin complained with no malice, more than likely he was just looking for a way to annoy the other Shiba's. Kaien shrugged as he greeted his cousin.
"Wanted me to see you off Ichigo? Doesn't seem like you, no offense of course." Kaien stated coming to a stop next to his family members.
"It's going to be a while till I next see you both... so I wanted to set some things straight. First of all, I wanted to thank you both... I was ungrateful and scared at first but I'm truly happy to have been reunited with you." Ichigo stated scratching his cheek and they started to gain a red hue. He planned out what he was going to say beforehand but it was more embarrassing then he'd envisioned.
"As I said Ichigo, it's family first. We wouldn't leave you behind no matter what." Kaien replied with a massive smirk, seeing his little cousin acting embarrassed reminded him of the days before he was lost, back when he was a child too shy to even stray from Masaki's side.
"And the other thing... I wanted to apologise to you dad." Ichigo continued he gaze suspiciously avoiding the elder Shiba. "About me rejecting being the Heir, Kaien explained it in greater detail to me... I just wanted to say I'll think about it a bit more deeply." Ichigo ended.
Instantly his father's face broke into a grin, Ichigo quickly found a heavy arm slung over his shoulder as Isshin pulled him close. Kaien simply watched on with a smile.
"So you'll take on the responsibility then? I can't wait to take you on a tour around our lands and show you the vineyard! You saw it when you were younger, do you remember it?" Isshin asked shaking Ichigo to and fro as he excitedly continued his rambling. It took a few minutes till Ichigo had the strength to push the older man away.
"I said I'd think about it! Calm down!" Ichigo complained. "I'll try learning a bit more about what I'd be needed to do... and there's also my other issue if you haven't forgotten." Ichigo stated, referring to his place as Hircine's Champion. Daedric worshiper isn't what you think of when you think of nobility.
"Other issue?" Kaien asked, a brow raised in confusion. Isshin and Ichigo shared a glance, in all honesty it probably wasn't the best time to reveal his status... He'd leave it in his father's judgement as to what's revealed.
"I'll leave that to dad to tell you if he feels it's the right choice... either way it's best I get going, I'll see you whenever I return. I'll try keep in touch." Ichigo said, suddenly wanting to be gone before he could be questioned to intensively.
"Most couriers know where to find us, so you don't have an excuse." Isshin replied as Ichigo turned to leave.
"I'll keep it in mind, see you around." He replied back with a slight wave over his shoulder. When he was out of view Kaien turned to Isshin with a raised brow.
"So, what is this problem he mentioned?" The Younger Shiba asked. Isshin rubbed his stubbly chin as he also turned to start leading them back into the city.
"It's a long story." He stated, hoping for the slight chance Kaien would drop it. Of course, Shiba's were known for their stubbornness.
"Yeah, that's not going to work, we have at least a month till he returns I'm sure that's enough for you to fill me in." Kaien rebutted. Isshin audibly sighed as he continued to consider what the corrected response.
"You're probably not going to like it." Isshin warned, while silently to himself he considered where he should take the conversation. He threw a quick glance over his shoulder, not at all surprised to see that Ichigo was gone from sight despite it barely being a minute since he left.
"Look, Isshin he's my family too, and if I can help I will." Kaien replied firmly. Isshin nodded with a huff, crossing his arms as he continued to walk.
"Let's go someplace quiet, the rest of the family aren't ready to hear this yet so if you can't keep a secret then say so now." He said while he led them to one of the stone staircases that led up the city wall, intending to speak away from other passer-by's.
"Whatever you say stays between us, I promise."
Isshin just nodded, seeing no way out other than forcing him to give up on asking... but he was sure his nephew would understand... at least he hoped so.
Ichigo knew he'd entered his pack's territory as soon as he noticed several eyes watching from a distance.
It was the middle of the night so for anyone else who wasn't a Khajiit it was too dark to see the half dozen eyes peering from a nearby treeline. It seemed to be a small hunting group of his packs wolves.
He briefly wondered to which location they were from, but their proximity to the mountain made him guess they were a part of some of the wolves which had dens all along the mountain. He didn't want to interfere with their hunt so he left them alone. They'd probably pick up an elk or two for their young back at the dens.
He continued along the path, he had travelled from Solitude in his wolf state so that he could get home sooner rather than later. But he'd reverted back to normal once he neared Rorikstead, he'd grown anxious about what awaited him, namely a displeased Tia. He doubted she'd be happy that he'd not returned after his quest.
He had to quell he anxiousness and push his feet forward, he was only had a finite amount of time before he was due to meet Rukia... and he suddenly remembered he'd yet to even ask for permission from Tia to go.
Again he had to force his feet forward to stop himself hesitating, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. He was a hunter and a Nord, he wasn't one to pussyfoot around an issue.
It wasn't long before his feet led him to the entrance of the Grotto. From the scents he could gather he noted that both Chad and Sajin were inside, as well as Tia. A few from the Frostmoon pack seemed to have passed through recently as well but have since left, probably here to make a report to Tia.
He suckered in a breath a schooled his features as he walked inside, only offering a quick nod to the small group of wolves that guards the entrance as he made his way through the Grotto. As he entered the housing area he noticed two new tents, either side of his.
Both tents were of comparable size to his own, if slightly smaller than his due to his having a few more layers of thick hides covering it. It didn't take a scholar to figure out these were Chad's and Sajin's new lodgings.
Prior to this Chad had been set up a bit further away with a temporary tent, but with the hides from those last two mammoth they'd hunted on their quest for a mammoth tusk, they apparently had enough to build them both some better housing.
"Mila helped Sajin build his, for obvious reasons. Sado seemed happy to build his on his own." A cool voice spoke from behind him causing him flinch, he turned his gaze to meet Tia's own. Her face was mostly emotionless like usual but with the exception of a small almost none existent scowl.
He been too caught up in the changes he'd allowed himself to become distracted. He silent cursed himself for his idiocy as he turned to greet Tia with a nervous smile.
"Come, we have much to discuss." She stated, her tone not giving him much hope as she turned. She led him over to the dining table, and poured them both a drink from the keg situated in its centre.
He sat opposite her and fidgeted slightly, he took a long sip from his drink and waited for her to being her questions... which wasn't long.
"Sado and Sajin have already informed me of the events in Morthal, you did well to survive. Movarth is a well-known vampire, and he was very powerful, you did what many have failed to do over the centuries." She started, taking a brief pause as she took a small sip.
"But it was too close... If not for the healer, you would have died, or at the very least been left in a state no longer fit to hunt. You were lucky, you can't allow it to be so close next time." She continued he her eyes showing concern for a brief moment. He nodded.
"I allowed myself to become to injured before my fight with him, I won't make the same mistake again... I'll organise myself better if I ever walk into a situation like that again." Ichigo promised lowering his head in a pseudo apology.
"Very well, that will have to do. Lord Hircine was pleased at least, he said you made good use of a decisive moment to win the day. He was happy with your team's efforts as well considering their experience." She replied, Hircine had an audience with Sado and Sajin once they'd arrived not seeming in the least to care that Ichigo was not there, though he probably expected that to be the case.
"They met Hircine? How did they take it?" He asked, neither Chad nor Sajin particularly worshipped the Daedric Prince since neither of them were willingly transformed into werebeasts. Both even had an amount of distain for Hircine each for their own reasons.
"They took it well enough, Lord Hircine doesn't mind that they have reservations about him it seems but you should speak to Sajin about it, Hircine offered him a quest." She answered her smirk showing her amusement.
"A quest? So soon? What's it about?" Ichigo asked, he briefly wondered if he'd have to cancel his work with Rukia.
"Lord Hircine offered him a way to be able to control his transformations, the ring of Hircine, the same one I gave back to him on my quest for the Savior's Hide." Tia stated. She'd be happy to be able to see the ring without it's curse, even happier if it aided Sajin with his problem.
"But before you go running off to see him, I wish to know how things went with your family." She said, stopping him before he could ask anything further.
He wasn't stupid, despite what some claimed. He knew that the real question was more along the lines of 'Will you be leaving us?' Which of course he wasn't... the hunters were his family too.
"They are good people, I think I'm pretty fond of them. My father doesn't seem to care that I'm a werewolf and the rest of my family don't know apart from my cousin Ganju and maybe Kaien. But he seems to have high hopes that they'd accept me as I am as well." Ichigo admitted. It was faltering really, he knew most would run to the hills in freight if they came face to face with someone they knew as a werewolf.
"He wants me to be his Heir, I told him I'd think about it... but I'm not leaving the hunt, even if I one day do take over from him I'd still be a part of the hunt. I think he understands that much." Ichigo continued. He wanted to leave Tia with the reassurance that without a shadow of a doubt he'd be at her side.
She didn't reply for a moment, then without a word she stood from her seat and motioned for him to follow her. He obediently followed as she led him up one of the rocky cliffs which hung over the camping area.
The glow of lamps illuminated the inside of the tents around the cove, the messy tables littered with maps and mead filled the centre of the area. The large camp fire slowly burnt away the firewood while it filled the silent night full of the crackle of fire.
It wasn't a stone manor, it wasn't luxury. It wasn't close to it. But it was home, it was open and unrestricted it was filled memories of his years here. He remembered when this place was only half as wide as it now was, after weeks he and Tia worked to open it enough to live comfortably. He remembers training with his blades near the flames of the fire and nursing his bruises inside his first tent...
"I... I felt something that I haven't felt in many years when I'd heard you'd gone to see your family alone." She started, her eyes seeming to stare intently at their camping grounds as she spoke. "I felt many things in truth." She continued seeming to struggle to gather her words.
"I felt fear at first that you'd choose them over us, then I felt disgust that I'd felt so petty about it since no matter the outcome or which side you decided to stay with it'd be your choice... Then the more I thought about it I began to feel jealousy. The Shiba's were your family, your real family."
He wasn't following completely but he was not stupid enough to cut her off to ask questions, not when she was talking about something so out of character for her. Her stoic and emotionless gaze had been replaced with some badly hidden fragility. He let her continue as he listened intently.
"I had forgotten that families still existed out there for us, the Tres Beastia and I may as well have no family at all, they've long since abandoned us or died. But instead of a family of blood relation we became a family of respect and admiration... I became jealous of the fact that they had more of a right to call you family than I did." She finished, one of her clenched fists was visibly shaking as if admitting this was psychically painful.
'So she feels like she's lesser to the Shiba's and was jealous of it?' He reflected on her words, she felt that her form of family was not worth as much as a full blood relation. He couldn't help but frown... it was his fault, he should have made it clear where she stood from the beginning.
"I don't care in the slightest of blood relations, a family is born from the connections people share... You may not be my birth family but you are most definitely my family on an equal if not higher standing than the rest... you've saved my life and given up years of your own to raise me. You went out of your way on countless occasions to make sure I was safe and sound... You have nothing to be jealous of, we may never share a blood relation but you'll always be on equal standing with them." Ichigo admitted unable to hide the slight blush on his features, just like Tia showing his emotions wasn't the most comfortable thing to do.
He was quickly embraced by the older woman, a gentle motherly hug. He was too shocked to move, not even to return the embrace. But before he could he was released and her back was turned, her feet already making their way back to the campsite.
"You should go see you friends, they are no doubt waiting for you." She stated, her face turned away. He noted the slightly higher pitch in her voice but didn't comment, after all actions were worth a thousand words and for Tia it was probably tenfold that so an embrace was enlightening to her current mind-set.
Tia kept her face hidden until she was back inside her tent, where she collapsed onto her nearest chair. Her hand rose to rub her eyes free from the unshed tears that glistened them, her own dark skin a few shades darker than usual... but despite her state, she felt happy.
And that's it for this month, my free time has been a little strained this month so sorry for any mistakes or oversights.
We got to see a softer side of Tia this chapter, something which'll probably not happen again though if you've raised someone as your own for that long you'd no doubt be in turmoil if you thought they were about to leave.
With this chapter was the official announcement of the first side story, Sajin's Quest. It'll be playing out at the same time as Ichigo quest with Rukia so I'll have to think of a way to upload it without it getting in the way of that story line. I'm hoping to make these side stories will help in building a foot hold for other bleach characters who are not important now but might be later so expect a few familiar faces to pop up on his quest.
I hoped the whole family reunion came off okay, I'm never really that good with these things since I never know what the correct response should be. Hopfully it worked out. I know a few of you wanted Ichigo to be revealed as a werewolf to them all now but i think that it might be a bit strange, more so after the getting revealed to a ton of people in Morthal. The way I see it is he's testing the waters, letting them get to know him first. He and Kaien already know each other pretty well be this point hence why he left that to Isshin to decided.
Time for the Q&A
Q: Nolifeking222
Thank you for the answer to my question. really cant wait for more interactions with his family and them finding out he binging a werewolf. really looking forward to Rukia job could it be considered a quest and will he date Orihime?
A: Yeah the job for Rukia could be considered a quest, though one with multiple people and as for whether or not he dates Orihime I'm leaning towards no probably not, I'm not really a fan of the that pairing honestly as it never really had an depth to it. You never know though, they may end up getting together in the end on this as I haven't put much thought into pairing in this yet.
Q: Keijman
Nice story i really liked the family reunion and how it all worked out.
I am also looking forward to the revelation that he is a werewolf.
I do have one question how do the girls still have memories of ichigo since yuzu called him by a nickname i presume that is what she called him but if he was kidnapped at a young age like 7 that would make karin and yuzu 3 and i dont think they would still recall those memories.
A: I'm glad you enjoyed everything so far, and to answer your question you're right they shouldn't be able to recall that stuff. It's my mistake I must not have thought it through properly, sorry.
That's if for today, If anyone has questions feel free to leave them in a review or pm and I'll get back to you.
Thanks for reading!