Blue spiritual pressure blasted through the air as it arched around a lone figure standing as if on nothing. Ichigo looked at his father after he had sent yet another Getsuga Tenshou at him, the man really was not one for accepting the fact that the attack had no affect on him. The man opposite him was still standing tall, even after launching so many attacks at him his father was still on his feet, now Ichigo knew where he had gotten his strength from. Well that was then and this was now after being amplified by both hollow and Hogyoku powers.
"You've gotten a little rusty, dad" Ichigo told his father with a slight smile on his face.
"You, creature do not get to call me dad" Isshin answered back as he stood in his same position, Zanpaktou still drawn.
"Why not? It is me after all, Ichigo Kurosaki son of Isshin and Masaki Kurosaki" Ichigo answered back as he could see the fury intensifying in Isshin's eyes.
'oh shit, should have waited for the right moment with that one obviously' Ichigo mentally complained
It would appear that way, well good luck trying to explain to him now! the Hogyoku answered him in an almost cheerful voice.
'shut up' Ichigo mentally retaliated.
His argument does hold water though, Ichigo, you will have to fight him if you wish to show him who you are, only then will he realise the truth came the voice of Zangetsu from his mindscape, joining the Hogyoku.
That and also we get to have a fight! It's been too long since I got to have my power used in a fight! the voice of the hollow within Ichigo's mind complained.
You have had your power used for the better part of a year now, it is my turn, Hogyoku if you please? Zangetsu asked kindly to the angelic man.
Of course was the simple answer the Zanpaktou received.
'I like it how you guys are deciding the powers I get to use, I thought I decided?' Ichigo asked mentally as he noticed his father speeding towards him.
Well I have been neglected for about a year now and at the risk of sounding like a child, I WANT ATTENTION! Zangetsu complained as the Hogyoku simply chuckled and the hollow was taken aback by the sudden change in Zangetsu's usual cool demeanour.
'ok, ok' Ichigo finally conceded as he could almost physically feel Zangetsu looming over him.
"Dad, I'll make you believe that I am your son" Ichigo talked as Isshin continued towards him, Zanpaktou raised high and his face twisted in anger and hatred.
"Slice at the moon and the heavens, Zangetsu!" Ichigo called out as in his hand a massive cleaver blade formed, it's bladed edge was black whereas the flatter edge was white, with a tint of red running through it.
Godamnit what happened to me getting attention? Zangetsu complained as the hollow just simply laughed.
Sorry couldn't help it the hollow laughed as the Hogyoku looked at the other two with a mixture of confusion and happiness.
And you two are his power? the Hogyoku asked them as his laughter reached them and calmed them both down.
Yes, we are his power, despite appearances both myself and this hollow are as close as brothers in here, how else do you expect us to kill time when we're not in combat? Zangetsu asked with a chuckle as the Hogyoku simply nodded in understanding, at least things would not get overly boring in here anymore.
Ichigo stood before his father in a white version of the Shinigami garment, his Zanpaktou was like a huge cleaver that had a black bandage that was coming from the end of the hilt. Isshin could not feel any spiritual pressure though, even after the release of the Zanpaktou he had expected some change in spiritual pressure, even stranger was the fact that it was a Shinigami's release. It was not like any of the Arrancar who's physical appearance usually gains them some of their former hollow attributes, and therefore releases their entire power, no this gave off no power at all. It was almost as if staring into a black void and trying to find the shred of light there.
Isshin charged forward his Zanpaktou raised high and brought it down at Ichigo, meeting metal with metal Ichigo brought up his own Zanpaktou. As they met a spark of spiritual pressure went down Isshin's blade and he felt to the slightest of extents Ichigo's raw power. Ichigo came forward this time and slashed his Zanpaktou upwards, trying to catch Isshin in his chest. Isshin simply thrust his head upwards and backwards allowing him to feel the wind of the swipe slicing across his neck. He jumped from the ground in the same position and brought his feet upwards and caught Ichigo in his chin before landing on his feet again a few feet back from where he had been standing. He began to charge spiritual pressure into his Zanpaktou as he thought about his previous meeting of blades with Ichigo. It felt like Ichigo had placed all of his spiritual pressure into his Zanpaktou and that was why it could not be felt otherwise, or so Isshin surmised.
Isshin again charged forward and connected blades with Ichigo, it was only now that he noticed it however, those eyes, although distinctly cold, almost seemed as if they were pleading, sorry or hurt in some way. This was a hollow Isshin was thinking about, they do not feel sorry or hurt, they only feel fear and hatred and hunger. He felt the spiritual pressure in the Zanpaktou now and realized that with his blade crossed over with Ichigo's their spiritual pressure's were intermixed. It was then that he began to feel the emotions that were within the spiritual pressure and there was sorrow and hurt, but there was also joy and love there too. This was too confusing for Isshin, no way could a hollow ever convey love, it was an emotion they were not accustomed to nor were they ever privy to showing it before.
Isshin jumped backwards and away from the confusing fight he was having with this creature, this was starting to mess with his head, he was beginning to believe that this was in fact Ichigo and not a hollow. He had to finish this off now and prove to himself and everyone down on the ground that this thing was a threat.
"Ichigo, I do this to put your soul to rest" Isshin said in an almost affectionate tone as he placed both hands onto the hilt of his Zanpaktou.
"Bankai" Isshin said with his eyes closed as a swirling mass of green spiritual pressure surrounded him and grew in intensity.
"Yep it looks like he is as good now as he was then" Kyota said to her sister who had lay on her stomach atop the building they had made their vantage point.
"Is that the captain who we played with when we were still full hollows?" Sachi asked as her sister turned around with a scary look upon her face.
"What do you mean play? We almost lost our lives that day Sachi" Kyota told her sister as Sachi simply looked at her with an almost innocent look on her face.
"I thought we were playing so I didn't try too hard" Sachi answered as Kyota's face became even more sinister and before long she had grabbed Sachi's cheeks and was pinching them very painfully.
The green swirling mass of spiritual pressure did eventually die down leaving Isshin to step out of his self imposed fog effect and reveal his Bankai. Isshin stood atop the air in his left hand he held a large swastika, white in colour and in his other hand he held a Zanpaktou not too dissimilar from Ichigo's Bankai, even black in colour. Between the swastika and the Zanpaktou was a long chain which was golden in colour and shimmered in the low light of the moons radiance.
"Tensa Engetsu"
Ichigo looked at the transformation of his father's Zanpaktou, so they were that closely linked in their Zanpaktou abilities were they? He was only ale to smile as he stood in place. Wrong move. Isshin seen this as a provocation, that he was viewed as not strong enough to fight this hollow that took over his son, well he was going to show it.
"Getsuga Tenshou" Isshin called out as he lifted his swastika in his hand and with spiritual energy running across all of its prongs sent it flying at Ichigo. The noise of the Getsuga was exactly the same as the screeching object closed in on Ichigo.
The racing swastika closed in on Ichigo as he raised his overly large cleaver and prepared to block the attack. As both weapons made contact Ichigo was surprised by the sheer strength behind the attack his father had just performed. The spiritual pressure around the swastika was not dissipating at all, if anything it was still strong. Ichigo looked along the golden chain and could see a green glow coming down the links of the chain and flowing into the swastika creating a green aura surrounding it, this dramatically strengthened Isshin's attack on Ichigo and forced Ichigo to take a step backwards. He then had to place his other hand on the handle of his blade so that his own Zanpaktou did not reach his face anymore than it already had.
Ichigo was surprised, his dad was surely determined to see this through. He had indeed hurt people with his old ways, his personality had become disgusting and it had even turned his own father against him. Applying his own spiritual pressure into his own blade he prepared to make an old but very familiar attack. Isshin could feel his spiritual pressure now and if he were to surmise it in any way he would have to admit if only to himself that it was the most astonishing and powerful spiritual pressure he had ever felt before. The Captain commander's was strong yes, but it was rugged and very coarse, this spiritual pressure was almost warm and gentle, as if not wishing to fight at all and only wanting to settle things peacefully. So tempting wa this idea that Isshin almost stopped his onslaught of spiritual pressure down his Zanpaktou, yet thinking about it he brought back his resolve and applied it twice-fold.
Ichigo grunted under the sudden application of even more force behind his father's blade. Ichigo had no other choice he knew exactly what to do in this situation, not that it was not going to hurt in any way shape or form. Ichigo swished his Zanpaktou outwards chanting "Getsuga Tenshou" as he done so and sent his father's swastika weapon right back at him. Isshin caught it effortlessly and turned back to Ichigo only to find him right in front of him. Zangetsu raised high and ready to strike down on his head. Isshin raised the swastika and deflected Ichigo's attack if only just and sent him over head.
"I don't want to fight you dad" Ichigo tried to reason as he landed on his feet behind his father and Isshin turned to him.
"You are no son of mine, you are using his body as a vessel in order to hurt these good people!" Isshin roared as he charger at Ichigo again throwing the swastika shuriken at Ichigo. Ichigo noticed the lack of the Getsuga Tenshou when his father threw it only to find out exactly why he had left that out.
"GETSUGA TENSHOU!" Isshin roared at the top of his voice as the shuriken I the air became coated in his spiritual energy and became a huge ball of green spiritual energy. Ichigo slashed at the air in front of him, even he could not stand that kind of attack without any form of deflective attack.
"Getsuga Tenshou!" Ichigo cried as an arc of white light erupted from where his Zanpaktou had previously struck.
As the green and white spiritual energies connected in the air a huge explosion racked through the streets of Karakura town. Down on the ground everyone could only watch on as father and son basically went all out to kill each other. Although they could all see that Ichigo was trying his hardest not to hurt his father, even taking a few cuts and bruises in the process. Orihime had taken up holding onto her arm as she watched two people she loved fought each other, one as a father and the other as so much more than he probably realised. Rukia noticed the way Orihime was holding herself and went to comfort the girl. Walking over to Orihime she noticed how the hollows around them did not even look in their direction any more, they simply looked upwards at Ichigo and Isshin's fight, some were even down on one knee with an arm across their leg.
"Orihime, are you ok?" Rukia asked as kindly as she could considering the circumstances. It took Orihime a while to respond to her friend but when she did it was when she had looked away from an attack on Ichigo from his father. He had been cut across his chest and had put up very little resistance.
"Rukia-Chan, I'm ok I guess" Orihime answered as she looked back up to the carnage that was taking hold. Rukia joined her in her change of attention, turning her attention back to the fight that it seemed inevitable would end in a death. Regret was going to flow through this day.
Ichigo was standing opposite his father with blood dripping down his arms and his chest, soaking through to his white clothes, he was breathing heavily and was still standing.
Why do you take such a beating Ichigo? the Hogyoku asked from within his mind.
That's his dad, his family, there is no way he'd hurt him, not enough to the extent of death the hollow supplied for Ichigo, much to all the entities surprise.
What? I can have my sensitive moments when I want to! the hollow complained as things finally went quiet within Ichigo's mind and he was allowed to get his mind back on this beating he was receiving.
Isshin stood opposite the body that was once his own son, it hurt him to deal such damage to the body of his son but he knew that within that mind no longer held his loving son, but that of a bloodthirsty beast. Isshin raced forwards and raised his Zanpaktou ready to slash downwards across Ichigo's stomach area, much to his surprise Ichigo grabbed onto the cloth on his Zanpaktou and threw it outwards. Isshin's attack connected and he was now standing next to his son with his Zanpaktou deeply embedded within Ichigo's gut.
"Hello dad, good to see you up close again, you've gotten old" Ichigo joked as his father looked up at him wide eyed. The clothing that covered Ichigo's top half started to rip away down the middle and fell from Ichigo's body revealing his battle scarred and toned body. The thing that caught absolutely everyone's attention was where the hollow hole was situated. It was completely filled in by what looked like a glowing crystal like substance, Isshin was instantly alarmed at this sight, Aizen had done much the same thing! He was the reason Ichigo was the way he was, the Hogyoku was the reason for his and Orihime's suffering!
"That is where you are wrong Isshin Kurosaki" came an almost angelic voice to Isshin's ears, only surprise he had was the fact that it had come from his son's mouth. Upon coming out of his tunnel vision of Ichigo's heart region Isshin could also see two protrusions of crystal behind Ichigo, on closer inspection he was even able to see that they were wings. Isshin looked up to the face of Ichigo and could see the change instantly, it had become much friendlier and even had a smile, as if to try and implore them all to believe he was friendly.
"And why would that be?" Isshin questioned, not even bothering to wonder how this voice knew what he was thinking, lets face it not much will always make sense if Urahara is behind the creating of it.
"I am not the reason for your suffering, in fact you could call me your salvation" the voice called out from Ichigo's mouth as it looked down at Isshin with it's smile still in place.
"How so?" Isshin asked not even daring to move in case this was a ruse to make him lose his attention and give the hollow it's chance to make it's escape.
"Well basically I gave him his memories of Inoue-San or the name at least, he knew that he cared for that name, only problem was that his mind did not put two and two together when he finally met her again. I had him accompany two young Arrancar girls on their way to a safe place in order for him to regain his humanity and once inside that oasis… your Ichigo returned" the Hogyoku finished as Isshin's wide eyes somehow managed to get even wider, he had run his own son through?
"Worry not, with my powers this is nothing to him, however I do ask that you do not continue to fight him because he refuses to hurt you no matter how much you hurt him, and if you continue against my better judgement… I will kill you" the Hogyoku finished as it's voice faded from it's angelic one back into Ichigo's mid speech.
As soon as the voice had left Ichigo his body slumped forward and the crystalline wings on his back went back into his body. His breathing became heavy as he could still feel the Zanpaktou through his body.
'Heh, guess I don't get to talk to Orihime then do I?' Ichigo asked himself.
Of course you shall, imbecile do you truly think that with my power this will kill you, I am almost offended the Hogyoku answered him as Ichigo could feel a warmness taking over his body and eventually forcing the Zanpaktou out of his body.
The darkness that Ichigo had been subject to finally lifted as he opened his eyes only to look at his father, who was standing in position unable to think up any logical response.
"Hello dad" Ichigo said quickly, just waiting for his father to attack him. Nothing happened however, his father's body began to droop as the spiritual pressure around him dropped and his Bankai deactivated to its natural form. Ichigo could see it in his father's eyes, he was happy, he was more than happy. He was elated, his son was back. Zangetsu disappeared from Ichigo's hand, dissolving into individual spirit particles and absorbing into his body. He smiled at his father and in the instant he had done that he was completely enveloped in his father's arms.
Isshin's tear strewn eyes told Ichigo the whole story, it was clear that things had not been easy for him with the absence of his only son. They stood on air for a small while before they descended back to the ground again, the explanations could wait till another day. They landed amongst the people they had previously left and Ichigo was very promptly wrapped up in a pair of arms belonging to Orihime and Isshin was also very promptly hit over the head by a feminine hand.
"Ow damnit! Who was that?" Isshin complained as he looked around only to fins Yoruichi with a smile on her face.
"We told you he wasn't dead!" Yoruichi said to him in a ' I told you so' kind of manner.
"Yes I see that now, I'm sorry Yoruichi, Urahara" Isshin called out as Urahara came out from the wall he was hiding behind.
"How did you know I was there?" Urahara complained as he walked up to them.
"Please Yoruichi in Karakura town and without you? That does not happen very much!" Isshin joked receiving glares from Yoruichi.
"Isshin stop where you are right now" Yoruichi warned as Isshin was able to pick up the menace in her voice, but he was too happy to care just now and kept applying petrol to the fire.
"Everyone can see it, might as well just admit it now guys, it happened long before you even left Soul Society, or was that maybe the reason?" Isshin joked eventually receiving a punch to his face, with a venting Yoruichi behind him.
"I said stop!" Yoruichi yelled at him as Urahara simply stood back out of the way, you do not mess with a woman when they are in a bad mood, that was the fundamental rule. Follow that rule and you get to stay bruise free for longer, or at least that sometimes worked with Yoruichi.
"Okay okay I'll stop, was just having too much fun to stop at all" Isshin answered as he smiled at them and both were compelled to smile back at him too.
Ichigo held on to Orihime as she held on to him. This moment did not require words, the simple understanding that they were both here and this was really happening was all both of them needed. Words would simply tarnish this moment. Everyone staid silent as they allowed the reunion of the teens to take place, Yoruichi, Urahara and Isshin had since stopped their joking argument and had stood around Ichigo and Orihime all with smiles on their faces. What no-one did notice however was that Urahara and Yoruichi were standing very close to each other and maybe, just maybe she had worked her arm around his waist line. His arm however was atop her shoulder and lay there as if just resting happily on the warm skin of the beautiful woman, well everyone knew now, might as well show them they are right.
Everyone had parted way only a few moments ago and now Ichigo, Isshin and Orihime were walking on the way to the Kurosaki residence, Ichigo turned to both his father and Orihime to see them still continuing on the same direction. They were all walking in a comfortable silence, Orihime even had a slight bounce in her step as she walked right beside Ichigo and a little pink hue across her cheeks.
"Uh guys?" Ichigo asked as both his father and Orihime turned to him Isshin with a happy smile and Orihime with an almost identical mirror of Isshin's smile.
"Yes Ichigo?" Orihime asked and Ichigo managed to even notice the missing suffix in his name, surprising as he had always believed her to address people otherwise, he wasn't complaining it showed that she had came out of her shell a bit.
"Shouldn't we walk Inoue home then go home? You know manners and all?" Ichigo asked trying to be serious even though he knew of the horrors that lay in wait for him at home. Namely two sisters who believed him dead. Isshin and Orihime exchanged looks and both looked back at Ichigo with smiles plastered across their faces.
"Orihime lives with us now Ichigo, she is an honorary Kurosaki" Isshin answered for him as Ichigo hit the floor, the implications of Kurosaki Orihime hitting him full force, damnit this was not how it was meant to happen! He already had an idea how to make that happen!
Ichigo lifted himself off the ground as Orihime giggled at him lightly and Isshin just simply looked at him with a smile on his face much more on the way to a creepy smile. Isshin realised what Ichigo must have thought and upon looking at Orihime he noticed she looked as if she had no idea, good in your own time Ichigo, she in an honorary Kurosaki remember she is not part of the family, well not yet.
"I shall go on ahead and make sure that Karin and Yuzu know what is going on before you just waltz in there after being dead to them for over a year" Isshin told Ichigo and noticed the hurt that screeched across Ichigo's face at that comment.
"Do they hate me that much for leaving them?" Ichigo asked in an almost inaudible voice as he stopped completely in the middle of the path, it was then that Isshin realised his error.
"NO, no not at all Ichigo, I mean that you have been dead to them for a year, in your absence they believed you to be dead, in the afterlife" Isshin explained as Ichigo's head remained low. Orihime walked over to him and placed her hand under his chin forcing to look down at her. Yellow eyes met blue/grey eyes and Ichigo smiled at the way Orihime looked at him, it was with only caring and compassion, Ichigo did not think Orihime even knew how to provoke violence.
"Ichigo, those girls love their big brother, I think they can only be thrilled if they see that you are alive and back with them, I know I would have been" Orihime finished with her own voice fading slightly. Ichigo noticed this and could see the tears forming in Orihime's eyes, he had hit a vital spot and he hated himself for it.
Ichigo grabbed Orihime's shoulders and brought her into his embrace, she needed comfort and as the idiot who had opened that particular wound he felt obliged to be the one that done it. Orihime did not complain as she simply entwined her own arms around his waist and held onto Ichigo tightly. Isshin stood simply watching and was ready to leave before he felt two very familiar spiritual pressures, fifty years older but still he recognised it.
"You two can come out now" Isshin called out as two women dropped down on Ichigo's side of the trio, Sachi and Kyota made sure to drop down quickly, they had been spotted there was no reason to try and hide their presence any longer.
"Hello Captain-San, you're looking well" Kyota said to Isshin as she smiled at the man, Isshin had reached for his Zanpaktou yet again, but the blue haired girl to his left raised her hands in surrender.
"We don't want to fight Captain-San, honest we're actually happy to see you!" Sachi said for both girls, Kyota mentally hated her sister right now, she was not meant to say that!
"Ohh is that so? And why would that be?" Isshin asked his hand still over the hilt of his Zanpaktou and his eyebrow now raised.
"You made us stronger Captain-San! When we got back to Hueco Mundo we woke up and were Arrancar!" Sachi told him with a smile on her pretty face.
"What Sachi is trying to say is that, we thank you for giving us the basics that we needed to survive in Hueco Mundo" Kyota finished before her sister, earning her a pout.
"I wanted to say that Kyota!" Sachi complained with her pout still in place, Isshin had to smile at that, the girls were just like, well girls. They may seem like young women but they behaved much like little girls.
"Is that the only reason you are here then? To thank me?" Isshin asked them his hand leaving his Zanpaktou, grateful that he did not have to battle the two pretty looking girls.
"Nope we're also here because Ichigo is" Kyota answered again, not receiving any response except a nod from the other young woman.
"And why would my son have two Arrancar following him to the real world?" Isshin asked them becoming suspicions of their honest intentions.
"He saved us from the harsh life of Hueco Mundo, we love him, he is the closest thing to what we might consider a father" Kyota told Isshin as Ichigo and Orihime heard that last statement.
"Dad they are not lying to you, I did save them and they are far from anything to worry about, I already told them not to cause any problems in this world" Ichigo informed his father as he and Orihime continued to hold each other.
"And how do you know that they will not do anything in this world? How can you be entirely sure?" Isshin asked his attention now focused completely on the safety of his family, all of it.
"They would not defy me dad, trust me" Ichigo answered with a smile over Orihime's head, which he then went on to stroke gently.
"Exactly no hollow would defy the God of Hollows!" Sachi declared happily as she smiled not noticing the astonished looks of both Orihime and Isshin and the ' oh shit' look on Ichigo's face.
"Damnit Sachi, could you not see that Ichigo was trying to be vague and not give that information away!" Kyota shouted as she hit the back of Sachi's head, earning a little whimper of pain as she done so.
"Kyota you're mean to me!" Sachi complained as she held her head, she however felt a soft hand stroking the sore bit on her head and turned to see the orange haired woman standing next to her stroking her head gently.
"Is that where it hurts?" Orihime asked gently as she gently touched the area on Sachi's head. Sachi nodded in silence as Orihime brought her head up to her face and kissed the spot on the girls head. Astonishing all of those who were there at that moment and time. Ichigo however was happy, Orihime accepted the two girls, that was a good thing, he really did not want the three of them to be in any form of conflict over him. That kind of situation seemed too painful to even consider. Sachi smiled up at Orihime.
"Does that mean that you are our mommy now?" Sachi asked innocently, there was another thud as Ichigo hit the deck for the second time in under half an hour. Isshin could only laugh at his son's reaction as Orihime's face turned a nice colour of pink at the sudden question, regaining her composure and seeing Ichigo still down she leaned down to Sachi's ear and whispered
"We'll see what happens, yeah?" she asked with a wink as she returned from Sachi and helped Ichigo get back up onto his feet, dusting him off, well dusting his torso off, since it was still without his coat now. Orihime revelled in the brickwork that claimed to be Ichigo's body, she didn't know muscles could be as hard.
"I'm away to inform Karin and Yuzu about these new developments" Isshin said in an almost exasperated tone. Honestly, this was going to be a fun one to try and explain to the girls, not only was big brother home but so too was two girls who claimed he was like their father. Things were going to get complicated before they got any better. Ichigo turned to Orihime who's hands were still dusting off his body, even though there really was none left.
"Inoue-san I think you got it all" Ichigo joked to her as she withdrew her hands quickly with a slight blush on her face, she was enjoying that thank you very much!
Orihime began to walk in the same direction as before trying desperately to get the heat that was coating all over her face to go away, to no avail. Ichigo stood still for a second before he too fell in line and walked behind her before beginning to catch up to her and walk at her side. Sachi and Kyota eventually moved from their positions too falling into step directly behind Ichigo and Orihime. Oh what a sight that must have been to watch walking down the street. A lone beautiful girl walking along by herself seeming to almost talk to herself, even if they could actually see Ichigo and the two girls it would be a surprising sight to see. One girl walking down the street in her normal clothes, nothing suspicious about her at all. Then the two girls behind her who were rather scantily dressed in their Arrancar clothes, maybe just a tad suspicious there, then there was Ichigo who walked down the street with his top half naked to the world and his muscles shining in the lunar light, sweat had never looked so good Orihime thought to herself. They were a rather suspicious group if anyone could see them, as such no-one really could and Orihime was granted the right to see Ichigo all to herself for now.
The walk home had been in silence and as they reached the front door Ichigo went first and opened the gate allowing the three girls to go in before him, whoever said that hollows were not chivalrous? They could be if they wanted to, they just don't like doing it. He walked in after them and walked up the pathway seeing that the three girls had stopped and Orihime stood off the path to the left where Sachi and Kyota mirrored her position on the other side, they already knew what to do or maybe it was simply out of respect as they knew what was coming. Ichigo walked up to his front door and knocked on it three times and stood back, just waiting to be kicked up and down the pathway to the house.
The door slowly opened and as the light from inside was able to escape Ichigo was able to see two heads poking around the door one had black hair as the other had brown hair.
"Hey girls" Ichigo smiled to his two sisters as both of their eyes widened, it was him!
Both girls ran out of the house in under milliseconds, they smashed into Ichigo harder than he had expected and caused them all to fall to the ground. A mixture of tears and laughter escaped the two girls as they hugged into their brother tightly, Ichigo never knew that coming home would have him struggling to breath through all of these hugs. Orihime smiled at the scene before her, she had not seen either girl so happy in a long time now, she had been with them for at least a month now but she had never seen s mile on Karin's face and Yuzu's was just beautiful.
Ichigo smiled down at his two little sisters as they hugged into him, scared to let go in case he would disappear yet again.
"Ichi-nii where have you beeeen!" shouted the small voice of Yuzu as she cried into him now. Ichigo placed a hand on her head and she stopped crying for a moment in order to look up at him.
"I've been away to a horrible place, but don't worry I'm home again and I even made some new friends" Ichigo told both girls as they dragged their eyes away from their loving brother to the two women who stood opposite Orihime with smiles on both of their faces.
"who are you?" Karin asked instantly as she looked at both girls, there was no anger in her voice but there was trace amounts of suspicion laced in it.
"We are humble servants of Ichigo" Kyota said quickly before Sachi was able to say anything that would instantly get them into any trouble with the two girls. This was Ichigo's family and since they felt as if they were Ichigo's daughters they wanted to get on good terms with their younger aunts.
"why are you his servants?" Yuzu asked in a very accusing way looking at her brother while asking, this caused a rather large sweat mark to appear on Ichigo's head.
"No no Yuzu they aren't my slaves! Honest! These are my two friends I made" Ichigo tried to argue waving his arms in front of him as if it would make things better.
"Yuzu, Karin don't worry, they are nice people" came a soft voice to their left, all turned to look at Orihime who had spoken those words.
Ichigo was surprised when both of his sisters looked to Orihime and nodded to her, then they got off of Ichigo and allowed him to get back onto his feet.
"Hey how come you guys listen to Orihime and never listened to me?" Ichigo asked mock pouting as he done so, eliciting giggles from both Sachi and Kyota and a slight blush from Orihime because of the name Ichigo had called her, he had called her by her first name. Ichigo however was oblivious to this meaningful blunder to Orihime.
Both of the girls simply looked at him with smiles on their faces, Ichigo noted with surprise the smile Karin had, it was nice to see her smiling. Mentally he thanked Orihime for whatever she had done with the girls.
"It's because she is a girl and you were an idiot ichi-nii" Yuzu answered for them both as she started giggling at Ichigo's stung reaction which consisted of his jumping backwards and feigning hurt.
"You cut me deep girls" Ichigo joked as he held his hand over his heart.
Both girls walked back into the house where Isshin stood at the door waiting for the rest of the party to enter also, Ichigo indicated for Sachi and Kyota to go an ahead and as they done so Orihime began to follow them too. She felt a hand on her wrist and turned to see Ichigo looking down on her with one of his very uncharacteristic smiles on his face.
"For whatever you done for those girls Orihime, thank you" Ichigo told her as he bent down in order to give her a kiss on her cheek. Orihime froze in that position as her face turned as red as a vibrant rose, perfectly in blossom, damn Ichigo could think this stuff up pretty well.
Ichigo released Orihime and had to stifle his chuckle as he watched Orihime standing in place almost as if unable to move, it was then that he thought to himself that he should not be acting this casual with Orihime, especially not after what she had been through on account of him. Ichigo cleared his throat and brought Orihime out of her trance, she looked up to him and could see the troubled look that he had, he was going to say something important or devastating wasn't he? He loved someone and needed her help to get the person to notice him didn't he? This was where she fit in perfectly, after all she would not refuse anyone anything would she?
"Orihime…" Ichigo called out softly as he looked into her eyes that were beginning to tear up, damnit had he really been that bad? He really did hate himself right now. Orihime notice again his use of her first name, that probably meant that he was calling her this because she was an 'honorary' Kurosaki and Ichigo now viewed her as a sister. That was so unfair, why did this have to happen? She finally gets him back and the way things were looking he was just going to break her again. Ichigo got down on one knee and held her hand and looked up to her now surprised face.
Wait, wait maybe there was something more to the way that he was acting. His face betrayed nothing now however as his yellow eyes stared at her in almost endearment.
"I don't know how I can say this, so I will do my best and you can decide how you feel afterwards" Ichigo talked as if he was unsure about this, that was a step backwards for Orihime, Ichigo had always been one to go forward, if he was beaten he would come back stronger and eventually win. That was just the way Ichigo was.
"I don't think I can ever apologise enough for what I have put you through in the past year, my time as a hollow I was worse than horrible to you, my mentality believed you to be my nemesis and my hollow nature took advantage of that. I do wish to tell you that I am sorry but like I said I do not think that it will cut it. I love you Orihime but I don't know if you will forgive me" Ichigo finished not realising what he had just said, only when he saw the absolute shock on Orihime's face did he realise. Thinking about what he had just said he mentally face palmed, too soon idiot!
"What did you say Ichigo?" Orihime asked as she was able to find her voice, even if it was just a high pitched squeal almost. Ichigo knew the goat was up, if he was to lie now and say that he did not love her then it would lead to yet an other version of misunderstanding and make things awkward between them, and since they are living in the same house awkwardness is out of the question.
"I said I love you, Orihime" Ichigo affirmed as he looked to her with his eyes not once ever averting away from her, making her see that he was not lying to her.
"You did" Orihime said as if she was in deep concentration. She looked up to him with a sad expression on her face and a sad smile on her face "that's not fair Ichigo, this is a dream isn't it? This cant be real, its too perfect to be real" Orihime said as small tears began to trickle down her face and she retracted her hand from Ichigo's and held it across her other arm. Ichigo stayed kneeling on the ground, completely taken aback by Orihime's response it was not what he had expected which was a slap or to be told to forget all about it, no. she thought she was dreaming and the way she talked it was a nice dream.
Ichigo got up from the ground and while doing so wove his arms around Orihime's waist, lifting her up into the air so that their faces were right across from each other, Orihime's face again brightened that beautiful red and Ichigo this time smiled.
"This is the best dream I've ever had" Orihime spoke in a sleepy state as she smiled at Ichigo.
"It is not Orihime, because this is not a dream" Ichigo told her as he closed the distance between both of them and captured her lips in his own. They were soft and warm and tasted of, strawberries? Huh ironic. Their lips moved in sync until Ichigo felt Orihime's lips failing to move against his own, opening his eyes he saw Orihime completely knocked out. Orihime was sleeping deeply and the blush on her face was evident but not quite as prominent, this blush was more out of surprise, Ichigo did not fear about reactions however because as he held her he could see the smile that wove it's way onto her face.
"That was so nice Ichigo" Orihime called out in her sleep as she resumed sleep again.
Ichigo smiled and lifted her up, placing his arms under her shoulders and knees, supporting her bridal style. He walked into his house carrying Orihime and could see the approving smile that his father gave him from his seat on the armchair in front of the television, he also noted the absence of the four other girls.
"Where is everyone else?" Ichigo asked his father just low enough so not to awaken Orihime.
"Karin and Yuzu showed those two other girls where they could sleep, they are sleeping in Orihime's room with her, for obvious reasons" Isshin lightly joked as Ichigo only smiled at the comment, managing to take it in good spirits.
"Ok so where is Orihime's room?" Ichigo asked as his father lifted himself from his seat.
"Sorry Ichigo but after you were basically viewed as never coming back I felt part responsible as a relative of yours to look after Orihime, that and the fact that I am the strongest Shinigami present in this town. She got your bedroom as I believed you not to ever come back here, at least not any time soon" Isshin finished as he walked towards the stairs.
"That's alright dad I can fully understand why things have went the way they have, don't worry we'll make this work, I'll make sure to stay around longer and help you look after our family" Ichigo told his father as Isshin simply looked at Ichigo happily.
"Make sure that you do, that girl you hold there has been through a lot, don't make her go through more, I don't want to see pain reflected on that face that has become like a daughter to me" Isshin said as Ichigo could almost physically touch the care coming from his fathers voice.
"I'm going to bed now Ichigo, I would offer you my bed but I know that you'd probably prefer to sleep on the couch to be nicer to me?" Isshin asked with a slight light heartedness in his voice.
"Yeah you're right dad" Ichigo agreed as he began to follow his father upstairs ready to put Orihime into his old bed.
As he reached his door he could hear as Yuzu and Karin told Sachi and Kyota all about themselves and about their lives. The two Arrancar girls were listening very intently, trying to learn as much about the family of their leader and more about him too. Ichigo smiled to himself at the level of interest that the two Arrancar girls showed about him, but also how quickly his sisters had accepted both the other girls even though they were technically classed as enemies. He felt movements within his arms and looked down to the form of Orihime as she had slightly woken up. She smiled up at him through bleary eyes and then proceeded to wrap her arms around Ichigo's waist in order to get comfortable, before unbelievably falling asleep again in his arms. Damn how much sleep did she need?
Ichigo chuckled as he walked into his room oblivious to the silence that had swept through the house as all four girls had stopped their conversation. They all had a much more interesting topic to think and later talk about, Ichigo going into his room with a very beautiful girl in his arms. Ichigo walked into his room to find it somewhat different from the last time he had been in it, what had he expected? She was the owner of this room now and she wasn't exactly going to keep it the same way he had left it. There was a large bed against the window that looked slightly bigger than his bed had been with a more intricate design on it, the carvings in the wood seemed almost beautiful and as he took a closer look he noticed the design of strawberries on the bed.
'Is there something about taking the pun in my name to whole new levels?' Ichigo inwardly complained.
I don't know I think it is rather impressive and you should feel more flattered than annoyed the Hogyoku answered him mentally.
'What do you mean, the taste of her lips strawberries, the design on her bed strawberries, it has to be a play on my name' Ichigo again mentally complained.
I can't believe I never noticed how dense you can be Ichigo, right ok then I'll explain this so that you don't embarrass yourself. Your name and strawberry look exactly the same in writing right? And this must mean that her only way of remembering you has been through that certain fruit. So what the strawberry really symbolises is her devotion to your memory and even in this case her devotion to you, even though you had become a monster she still loved you, love is not an emotion easily broken, she has stayed devoted to you for all of this time the Hogyoku finally finished as a shocked Ichigo stood rooted in the place before his bed with the subject of their conversation smiling while asleep into his chest. Those words definitely had an impact on Ichigo as he looked down at the sleeping form of Orihime he could not help but feel a tinge of happiness spread through his body, she loved him did she?
I don't see why though, quite obvious she could have any man she could want the Hogyoku interjected as a vein popped in Ichigo's head, intended response met!
'The hell do you mean by that!' Ichigo yelled back to the Hogyoku as it simply laughed at Ichigo's response as he fell for it hook, line and sinker.
Yo king what's the probl….. Oh well done king, took you long enough to figure it out his hollow called out as it could see Orihime in Ichigo's arms and even the smile she had.
He has a point Ichigo, what took you so long? Zangetsu asked as Ichigo was trying very hard not to shout out in the real world and only direct his words to his mind.
'SHUT UP! I never had the chance to actually get to know her well before everything happened' Ichigo told them as he still stood in place in the middle of his room.
I only joked Ichigo, all that I say now is that you treat her well I can feel her hearts desire and it is nothing more than to be with you, you and you alone are all that her heart truly desires the Hogyoku told Ichigo.
'I see' Ichigo answered back softly as he smiled down to Orihime, wow you really do love me don't you?
That's it? Just I see? You really are dense you know that? the Hogyoku joked to him as Ichigo simply ignored him.
'Yeah I know I'm dense, but right now I couldn't care less' Ichigo said as he began to lay Orihime out on the bed. Once she had left his arms he lifted her legs slightly to allow him the space to place her legs under the covers. He lened down to her and placed his forehead against hers.
"I wont ever leave you Orihime, never again will I leave you" Ichigo told her as he quickly planted a kiss on her cheek and began to prepare the other two beds which were luckily enough found in his old closet, after setting them both out he put the blankets and covering over them too.
"You can come out now girls I know you've been there since I came in here" Ichigo called out as he could almost mentally tell that all four girls had gone 'How the hell did he do that?'
All four girls walked into the room with their heads hung low expecting to get an angry Ichigo in their faces for peeking on him during what had to be a very intimate moment for him.
"Hello, Sachi that's your bed, Kyota that's yours" Ichigo said as he indicated both beds, all of the girls looked up the see the smile on Ichigo's face as he stood up tall again and began to walk out of the room.
"Come on girls lets allow these girls the sleep they require and go to bed too, you guys have school tomorrow anyway!" Ichigo joked to his two little sisters as they face dropped at his sudden outburst and choice of words.
"Ichi-Nii that's not fair! How come you don't have to go to school!" Yuzu asked as she gave him the puppy dog eyes.
"Who said I wasn't going to school? I'm going back tomorrow" Ichigo answered in a smile as he left his room while pushing the two girls out at the same time. That definitely had the two girls stumped.
"How will you do that when everyone thinks you're dead?" Karin asked quickly as she looked up to her big brother again.
Ichigo gave her a gentle smile before he knelt down to their level and grabbed their shoulders, bringing them into a hug.
"That's why I'm going to see Urahara just now, you girls get to bed and I'll see you tomorrow when you get up ok?" Ichigo told his sisters softly.
"Okay ichi-Nii" Yuzu supplied for both girls as they went to their rooms and Ichigo made his way out of his house towards Urahara's shop.
Well here is the next chapter I apologise for the long wait and will try to get them out to you much quicker in the future. I also apologise if I have done the reunion with Ichigo's family very poorly. Other than that I hope you enjoy and I shall see you guys in the next chapter. As always please R&R thank you! Your author - Varrukh