Aberon was about to begin when he caught new scents in the air, raising his nose up to try and decipher what they were. Some of the others copied his movements and they had better luck recognizing the new people.
"Rukia and Renji!" Ichigo barked out, grinning. His fiancée and best friend had come to visit. His smile faded as he remembered that they were all – save for one - in wolf form.
"Aberon, I'm going to change back and cut them off before they come down." Yoruichi turned to the puppy. "Use that time to turn everyone else back, we're still not sure how the Soul Society will react to this."
"O-okay." Confused, Aberon did as he was bid and turned to change the others back to normal while Yoruichi shifted, fully clothed once she learned how to shift the proper way and not have to be naked.
Yoruichi used Shunpo over to the ladder then up into the shop just as the two Fukutaichos approached it, startling them.
"Yoruichi-sama." Rukia exclaimed, getting over her surprise quickly. "Is Ichigo with you?"
"Down below." The were-cat answered with her trademark grin. "He's got his family and friends down there with Urahara and the others, they're admiring a new specimen he found the other day."
She saw the two Fukutaichos glance at one another and knew her guess was right. Soul Society had found out about Aberon and they were here to find out what he was. Lying about his presence would do them no good, because then they would know they were trying to hide him, leading to even more trouble in the long run. However, they could hide their ability to turn into wolves. With any luck, Aberon would tire from having to change everyone back and fall asleep, thus avoiding a conversation between him and the Shinigami. Aberon never lied, and if Rukia asked the right questions, which she no doubt would with her training, they're secrets would pour out of the pup without hesitation.
"Do you mean a small wolf pup?" Renji questioned.
"Yeah, funny looking wolf he is. Kurosaki decided to call him Abe for now until we learn a little more about him."
"Do you know where he came from?"
"No, just showed up at Ichigo's place one day, came here to try and find out more. After he gained an audience of course, that idiot."
Below, Ichigo sneezed, rubbing his nose and glaring at the exit.
"Can we see it?" Rukia said cautiously, searching for anything suspicious in Yoruichi's reply.
"Wouldn't hurt, perhaps the Soul Society will know something." Yoruichi shrugged and turned towards the entrance. "Check out the slide Kisuke put in, I swear he's nuts."
Despite saying this, Yoruichi jumped onto it and slid down as a surfer would for a little fun, Renji and Rukia watching her in confusion before using Shunpo to meet her at the bottom.
"You guys are bores." She snorted at them and led them to the assembled group of people.
They were all back in their human forms, thank goodness, and Aberon did look a little drowsy but was still awake. At the sight of the pup, the two Soul Reapers stiffened and glared at him. As far as they knew, this tiny puppy was controlling their friends, and by the way Yoruichi covered up the change in her Reiatsu, they were sure he was bad news.
Ichigo saw their glare and narrowed his own eyes, stepping in front of them to block him from view. Aberon looked at his guardian in confusion.
"Ichigo, can you tell us what that wolf pup is?" Renji asked, frowning at his friend.
"His name is Abe." The young man replied. "I found him in the streets and decided that, because of his powerful reiryoku, he'd be attacked by Hollows a lot and I took him in. I brought him here to see if I can find out what his power is."
For the most part Ichigo was telling the truth, he just wasn't telling the whole truth, and Rukia caught onto it quickly.
"You're hiding something, Ichigo." She told him, her expression accusatory. His determination wavered under that glance but he kept silent. For the first time since he had confessed he loved her she felt distant from him, like there was something stepping between them. She noticed Aberon peek his head around Ichigo to see and she glared once more. "That wolf has done something to you but you defend it instead?"
"Abe hasn't done anything, I chose it." Ichigo snapped back before shutting his mouth, hoping they ignored his slip-up.
"What did you choose?" Renji crossed his arms, dashing the man's hopes.
Silence was his answer. Rukia looked among the others. Isshin stood next to his daughters, Ichigo's friends from school avoided her gaze, the crew with Urahara remained stubbornly silent while Kisuke himself held a mysterious grin. Yoruichi had her back turned, seemingly interested in the fake sky above them, while Orihime fiddled with her skirt, Chad remained expressionless and Uryu pushed his glasses up nervously to hide his eyes.
"You're all hiding something!" Rukia shouted at them, surprising Renji. "We're not here on orders from the Seireitei, just tell us what's going on!"
At hearing that they weren't here on orders the others seemed to open up a little.
"Kuchiki Rukia." A small voice said and the petite Fukutaicho was surprised to realize it was Aberon that had spoken. "You are supposed to be spying on us, why did you confront us instead?"
"How did you know that?" Renji growled only for Ichigo to growl back, the latter's being an actual feral growl that made Renji cringe.
"I see truth." Aberon replied, jumping off the rock. He stayed close to Ichigo, knowing the Shinigami didn't trust him. "I tell truth."
"And how do we know this isn't some mind game of yours, huh?" The red-head scowled. "The Onmitsukido reported hearing about a pack of yours and how these guys," he gestured to those gathered, "have some kind of ability to turn into wolves."
"Because we do." Uryu stepped forward. "Aberon calls it the Wolf Gift."
"Uryu." Ichigo growled under his breath in warning.
"Calm down, Kurosaki-san, they're here as your friends not your enemies." The Quincy replied quickly. "The Onmitsukido heard right, Abe-kun does have a pack." He gestured to the others calmly. "We're the pack."
"…What?" Rukia questioned, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Look, what I said earlier was true." Ichigo sighed. "Aberon came to my house being chased down by a Hollow. I saved him but he was hurt, so I took him in. After that he mentioned he wanted a protector, and you know I can't turn that down, so I accepted. The wolf power came with it and the pack just kinda…grew."
Both Shinigami had nodded when Ichigo mentioned being unable to turn down a soul in need but now they shared a glance.
"Explain everything, Ichigo." Rukia stepped closer to her fiancé. "Don't leave anything out."
The Alpha did just that, the three of them sitting down while the others moved away, wondering if they should return to their wolf forms. Aberon slept peacefully in Ichigo's lap, which Rukia and Renji could now understand when Ichigo finished his explanation.
"So all this is just to help him?" Rukia's voice was much softer now.
"Yeah." The orange haired man nodded. "Aberon knows something is coming and that only wolves can defeat it. We're preparing for that time. Even if there's nothing to worry about, you can't deny this wolf power is helpful in some way or another."
"But there can also be consequences." Renji argued. "The Soul Society won't like this."
"I think you've realized I could care less what the Soul Society thinks." Ichigo replied snappily. "I'll worry about it when I'm dead and a permanent member of the Gotei 13. At the moment, I don't give a shit."
"Ichigo, that's dangerous thinking." Rukia warned. "Also, the Gotei 13 knows your powers just like you know theirs, but even you can't fight off all thirteen Taichos by yourself."
"I have my pack." He argued. "We may not know our powers well enough at the moment, but once we have them, I have a feeling we'll be even stronger, and the Gotei 13 knows nothing about this."
"You're really pushing your luck here, Strawberry." Renji growled. "Are you sure it's worth it, risking yourself for a wolf pup like this?"
Ichigo didn't reply with words, just a long stare at the pair of them. Then he sighed and picked up his canine brother before standing and returning to the others. The two Shinigami noticed two of their former friends were replaced with enormous wolves, and one a large lion-maned panther. Yoruichi, Orihime, and Uryu had reverted into their animal forms again, looking towards Ichigo as he approached.
"You guys might be stuck like that for a while." He told the three. "Abe-kun fell asleep from having to change everyone back."
"Oh I can do what I like, and I don't have anything better to do." Yoruichi grinned, her tail flicking behind her. "And Orihime doesn't have work this weekend, nor does Uryu."
"Alright." Ichigo nodded while setting Aberon down in Yuzu's waiting lap. "Mind if we spar in wolf form, Yoruichi-san?"
The Lightning cat shrugged and Ichigo was about to switch forms when Rukia rushed over.
"Wait Ichigo!" She shouted to make sure she had his attention. He looked at her. "I…I want to help you."
"Rukia!" Renji's eyes widened while Ichigo just lifted an eyebrow.
"Let me be part of the pack. Perhaps if I show the rest of the Gotei 13 these powers, they might accept it."
"Or they'll kill you!" Renji snapped at the petite Fukutaicho as he rushed to her side. "You nearly didn't make it through that last execution they put on you, do you want to go through that again?"
"I'll just barge in and save her again." Ichigo replied, taking his fiancée's hand. "You should know better than anyone I wouldn't let them kill her."
Rukia smiled while Renji scowled and attempted to work out things in his mind.
"Then…then I'm in too! If Rukia-chan gets in trouble for this, I won't let her go through it alone."
"Renji…"Rukia seemed slightly surprised by her best friend's conviction, before smiling gently at him.
"Alright, but you'll have to wait." Ichigo said, smiling at them both. "Abe-kun is exhausted so you'll have to wait until he wakes up."
"That's fine; we've been given a day or two to 'spy' on you." Rukia smirked and then pecked her fiancé on the cheek.
Though still a little nervous about what they were getting into, the Shinigami settled into the group and watched a few of the others change into their wolf forms, racing around the training field to build up their stamina and speed. Ichigo was one of them, sparring with Yoruichi as he had earlier planned and surprising Renji and Rukia with his zanpaktou spirits appearing to assist. The Taicho's experience on four legs gave her an advantage over all three of them as well as her superior speed. With teamwork they would occasionally corner her and land a non-fatal blow until she squirmed away, leaving a few blows on them, and the chase began again.
"This is crazy, Rukia." Renji sighed, watching Shiroken pounce the purple and black panther and wrestle with her before she launched him off and went for the approaching Zangetsu, Ichigo attempting to catch her from behind. She avoided them both. "Sou-Taicho will have our heads for this."
"I'm not going to let Ichigo fight alone again." Rukia replied, turning her gaze to Uryu and Orihime. They'd been told the Quincy had announced himself an 'Ally' and not a true member of the pack, and they assumed he did that not just as Ichigo's friend but to stay with Orihime.
"Yeah, that moron can't do this alone no matter how much he thinks he can."
"Thanks for staying, Renji."
The red-head didn't get to reply as a wolf formed Karin jumped up next to them, trying to ask a question they couldn't understand. When they both shrugged, Karin huffed and left again to check on her still human sister Yuzu and the pup in her lap.
"I wonder what she wanted." Rukia asked to the air, watching the black wolf take a seat next to Yuzu and nuzzle the pup gently. He opened his eyes and smiled at her before laying his head back down to rest.
"No idea…maybe something to do with Hitsugaya-Taicho?"
"Maybe. He hasn't visited in a while and Rangiku-san mentioned he was planning on making a visit soon. Though…with what's going on, his plans might be dashed." Violet eyes saw Renji nod before glancing once more at the others around her. Isshin was with the members of his group, getting to know Ichigo's friends a little better while he left his daughters with Aberon.
"Yeah, but I'm sure he'll try to check up on her."
They both sighed and stood, walking over to Kisuke, who was still human at the moment, and getting an update on recent events in Karakura Town to make sure they hadn't missed anything important.
It wasn't until a few hours later as night was falling that Aberon was able to give them the Wolf Gift and turn the others back before falling asleep again as everyone headed home in their human forms. Rukia and Renji decided to wait to transform and the latter stayed at Kisuke's while Rukia went to Ichigo's for the night. The Shinigami hoped the Soul Society wouldn't find out until they returned.