Chapter Thirteen

- Head to Head, Heart to Heart -

"Isshin, what do you think you're doing?" Kisuke demanded sharply. "Are you joking?"

Isshin growled, baring his teeth like that of an angry wolf. "Does it look like I'm joking, you son of a bitch?"

As Kisuke blocked the next flurry of angry blows, he saw the intent on Isshin's face. He was serious and he was overcome with red-hot anger. His eyes were made of steel and had Kisuke been anyone but who he was, he may have feared for his own life.

Kisuke really hated to have to fight back but if Isshin continued then he would have no choice but to go on the offence.

"I think you have lost your mind completely, Isshin. Do you want to hurt Ichigo that badly?"

"I'm saving him!" Isshin retorted.

"No, you are not. You are pushing him further and further away until he wants nothing more to do with yo-."

"-And it's all your fault!" he roared. His words were uncoordinated and they shook as dangerously as his reiatsu. "You and the Soul Society taking my son!"

Kisuke slid back a foot kicking up some dust as Isshin pushed against his still sheath sword. "You are speaking nonsense, Isshin. If it was Shinji-san or even Renji-san it would be the same, Renji is a Vice Captain. I haven't been a Captain for more than a hundred years," he said all this in a state of calm hoping that it would ease Isshin if he didn't slide onto the man's temper rising level.

But it was useless; Isshin swung his sword causing Kisuke to snap a hand on his hat and duck to keep from losing it.

"Isshin, please stop," Kisuke said sliding forward and bringing his cane down wedging it between the sword and himself. "I love your son, I would never hurt him."

"Lies!" Isshin spat. "How would you know? All you've ever thought about was yourself and your newest experiment! That's how you see my son!"

"Is that what you believe?" Kisuke's voice went from calm to deathly sharp. In a swift elegant movement, Benihime was unsheathed and his sword slid deftly underneath Isshin's larger one, pausing at the man's neck. Isshin froze and Kisuke glared at him with all the intent of killing. "You dare believe I would do such a thing?" he hissed, his own reiatsu flared and it multiplied spinning around in thick shards before it tripled. "You dare believe I would hurt Ichigo! What is this truly about Kurosaki Isshin?!" he commanded fiercely. "You tell me now before I slice off your head!"

"You'll just use him, I've seen you do it before," Isshin panted and if he were in human form he'd be sweating profusely. "I've watched time after time you take a man or a woman and use them for your own means. You were famous for it! You discarded them after stealing a little bit of them for your own value!"

Kisuke's grip went lax and Isshin jerked away slicing his shoulder, ripping the hakama and haori.

"I would never do that to Ichigo, Isshin," Kisuke stated sharply. "Never would I do anything to form a frown on his beautiful face." His tone was that of an icy chill that few had ever actually seen. "Ichigo means more to me than anything Isshin and I will swear on that. You are now stepping in dangerous territory. You may hate me and believe that I am stealing your son away, but don't you ever come to the conclusion that I would use him."

He elegantly swished his Zanpakuto so that it flashed in the sun causing a vicious reflection that glared Isshin down. "Benihime will not take too kindly if you anger me anymore, Isshin. This is a match that you cannot win. Think about your daughters and think very harshly about your son." She lit up red, warming Kisuke's hands effectively telling him that she was ready. He could feel her humming and pulsing through and he would hate to use her in this fashion.

However, it looked as though Isshin wasn't going to give him any choice. The man brought his Zanpakuto up before calling it's name roughly.

"Enough talking," Isshin said lethally.

"Very well, Isshin," Kisuke said inclining head and at the same time he spun his hat off is head and it landed with a plop a few yards away. "Cry Benihime," he whispered and her red aura deepened as he held her straight up toward the sky.

Isshin shot forward at the same time Kisuke released.

-

Ichigo and Rukia jerked at the exact same time that Karin fell on her butt and Ururu clutched Ichigo close, each one of them feeling a strong violent sheet of reiatsu that made the entire ground tremble.

"Strong reiatsu!" Ururu said wide eyed.

"What on earth-?" Rukia asked in shock.

Karin looked over, eyes wide. Ichigo's badge was out and he immediately transformed causing Rukia to grab his faux body. He gripped his sword. "It's Kisuke," he breathed, "I don't recognize the other, I only know his."

"WAIT! ICHIGO!" Rukia called but he was already gone.

He shunpoed through the skies, eyes hardening. What the hell was going on?! His mind raged. What was that reiatsu? Why did Kisuke's suddenly flare out? He appeared on top of the building overlooking Urahara Shop and his eyes widened when he saw bubbles of light flash and clash together. He could hear the clinging of metal and the roaring growls of the enemy. The reiatsu was as strong as ever and whoever Kisuke was fighting was strong.

He rushed through the shop to the back as the dust and demon spells dissolved showing his father and Kisuke going at it. His father was at full strength but Kisuke was only releasing a fraction of what he possessed.

Kisuke's shoulder was a little damaged and Isshin's body was hunched over with one arm pressed into what was obviously a stomach wound.

They continued to go at it, swords clinging and clanking viciously, reiatsu lashing out and attempting to damage the other in anyway they could. Ichigo stood there stood for how long, he did not know but this couldn't continue!

He first rushed over to Kisuke's side. "What the hell is going on!?

"Ask your dad, Ichigo-chan." Kisuke stepped in front of Ichigo blocking two sharp thrusts. "Get back please, this is serious."

Ichigo's eyes narrowed and he Flash Stepped to his father. "STOP!"

"Out of the way Ichigo!" Isshin growled. "Do not interfere!"

"Bull shit old man! He's going to kill you at this rate," Ichigo snapped. He unwrapped Zangetsu and brought it up to clash with Isshin's sword. "Don't make me fight you dad… stop this nonsense!"

"Move it Ichigo!"

"No."

"Ichigo-"

"Don't you get it, old man?" Ichigo sneered. "I didn't listen to you the first time and I ain't listening to you now. Put down your sword and stop being an idiot! Kisuke will hurt you."

"You think I'm that weak!?" Isshin growled. "I'm not weak Ichigo and I'll get you back."

"You're crazy!" Ichigo roared. "I didn't say you were weak but I've been up against Kisuke in training you idiot. Don't be stupid, he's not even shooting off all his power. He's equal to Aizen, dad. Please stop this before it gets too far."

"No! It is my job to protect my family-"

"Not like this," Ichigo demanded. "Not in this pathetic way you're not Kurosaki Isshin."

"Back off Ichigo I am warning you."

"Going to attack the son you're trying to protect?!" he challenged.

"If you force me too, I will!"

"Then you'll have to force your hand now won't you?"

Isshin glared but Ichigo only glared right back.

Kisuke was standing there waiting and hoping to God Isshin got some sense. If Ichigo couldn't talk him out of this, what else was there?

Silently, Isshin drew back only to shunpo away forcing Kisuke to raise his sword in a brisk move to parry the swift attack.

Ichigo growled under his breath and whirled around, his father had completely lost it.

Kisuke seeing no way out of this unless he hit the man fast and hard pushed back gathered a massive swirl of reiatsu, Benihime was weeping in all her glory.

Isshin's reiatsu was also reacting, rippling and sliding down into his sword viciously, his eyes narrowed. "I will finish you Kisuke…"

"I'm sorry Isshin," Kisuke murmured and at the same time both of them released their powerful attacks.

At the exact same time of the release, Ichigo Flash Stepped right between them with their attacks shooting headlong toward him.

"ICHIGO!" Kisuke and Isshin's yelled in unison. Kisuke's heart slipped into this throat and he began to choke on it, the burning inside flared into a dangerously lethal weapon. Kisuke did the only thing that he could do seeing Ichigo standing there without Zangetsu to stop their deadly blows, he deftly stepped into the path his body shielding Ichigo and when the attacks came, Kisuke felt as though all the wind was knocked out of his body and something shocked him into a paralysis. He couldn't even cry out or moan, he lagged forward and the blood spilled out of his mouth like water. He held onto Ichigo's body while everything around him swirled into a slow dizzy kind of darkness.

Ichigo cried out when he felt Kisuke's weight, his arms flew up to hold the man and he about fainted when he felt the blood pour out of him.

"Kis- uke!" Ichigo's eyes were wide and his heart screamed so loud that he could even feel his Hollow panicking. He held his raggedly breathing lover close the weight sagging further into Ichigo making it hard to keep him up even in spirit form. "You idiot! How could you do that?" he managed to choke in horror.

Kisuke laughed weakly before gagging on his blood that continued to pour out. "Ichigo-chan, do you - really-" he paused feeling the immense pressure in his chest. His breathing kicked up harder and rougher. He sensed the earth moving around him and was hardly aware of Ichigo pulling his body to the ground. "I would - let you - get hit by my - attack?" That had been an awful hard sentence to finish. His mind was spinning and he could feel his own reiatsu at work trying to keep him stable.

For one of the first times in a very long time, Ichigo had the urge to break down and cry. He had never seen Kisuke in such shape before and he was nauseated by the scene. So much for not having to worry about the man. The blood was all over his chin and robes that were ripped and tattied. He looked unusually pale and his eyes were glassy and dilated.

Ichigo thought his heart was literally going to fly out of his chest. "So stupid… you shouldn't have done that!"

Kisuke would have rolled his eyes but it took too much effort.

"ICHIGO!"

Ichigo was barely aware of Rukia, Inoue, Chad, and Ishida rushing forward each one of them were prepared and ready for a battle. The reiatsu had been strong enough to attract everyone. Jinta and Tessai who had been out gathering supplies came in a few minutes afterwards.

"Oh my!" Inoue gasped and immediately her hand flew to the flower petals in her hair. She called out her healers as Ichigo fell back from the glow of a familiar bright orange bubble that surrounded Kisuke's barely breathing form.

Ururu broke free of Rukia's hand and ran to Ichigo her arms going around his neck. "Is Kisuke-san going to be alright?"

Ichigo didn't answer and simply held her with one arm. His friends were taking in the scene, eyes wide they saw Isshin standing back a stricken look across his face. Ichigo couldn't pay attention to anyone but Kisuke; he dare not move his eyes in fear of his condition changing for the worst.

"Ichigo-" Isshin said softly. "I'm sorry."

Ichigo bit tongue, is this what it took? He thought in disgust. He wanted to scream and shout at his father, he wanted to attack and hurt him for what he had done but he knew that it would get him nowhere. "Sorry, huh?"

"I- I lost my mind-" Isshin bowed his head in shame.

"No shit," Ichigo spat.

Isshin crouched down next to his son. "Can you forgive me?"

"Not right now," Ichigo said noticing Renji and Byakuya heading for them.

"Whoa! What happened here?" Renji asked. "We just got back from Soul Society."

"Isshin-san?" Rukia came over. "I can heal minor injuries," she insisted softly.

"No thank you Rukia-chan," he declined. "I deserve these injuries. I almost killed my son because of my blind hatred."

"Is that what happened?" Ishida asked looking to Ichigo to see no scratch. Inoue was looking at him with worry too.

"I was trying to stop it, no one would listen to me so I stepped in the middle," Ichigo said shortly. "Actions speak louder than words, what do you think, dad?" he asked steely.

Isshin covered his eyes with hand and sighed heavily. "Yes, they really do, Kisuke was faster."

"We felt the ground shake," Chad explained moving to sit next to Ichigo. He placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder. "We came to investigate."

To Ichigo it felt like Inoue's healing was taking forever. He frowned wanting to get closer and slide through the bubble to touch Kisuke but resisted the feelings as he kept his feelings masked while clutching Ururu tight.

He was hardly aware of Rukia healing the bleeding slash on his arm; hell he didn't even know he was hurt he was so shocked over Kisuke.

"Yah, my oh my - what do we have here?" Shinji tutted as he strolled through the backyard, all the Vizards behind him. His hands were shoved in his pockets.

"A case of idiot men," Rukia answered.

"Oh, really?" Shinji asked crossing his arms. "Inoue-san, when you're tired Hachi can take over."

Hachi however was already moving to Isshin and brought up his shield before the man could protest.

"How did he get this bad off?"

"This idiots fault," Rukia said pointing to Ichigo and then to Isshin.

"Oh?" Lisa asked falling down behind Ichigo and lurking around smirking at the little girl in his arms. "What did he do this time?"

"Jumped in the middle of the two while they gave off some of their strongest attacks," Rukia said with a scowl.

"And he's not hurt severely?" Mashiro asked shocked.

Kensei who put two and two together pointed at Kisuke. "He blocked it?"

Ichigo nodded before Rukia could confirm it.

"Wow, good goin' orange!" Hiyori shouted plopping down. "You too, dickhead!" she growled at the bubbled Kisuke.

"Of course he would, I ain't surprised," Shinji said sprawling out on the grass next to Inoue. "I got threatened for simply making Ichigo frown. Of course he'd block all those attacks, its Urahara. He can handle it."

"He's still a dickhead!" Hiyori crowed.

"And you're still a bitch," Shinji said factually.

"Why you-!" Love however wrapped his arms around Hiyori and Rose clasped his hand over her mouth.

"Now now little one play nicely," Rose chastised.

"Or we'll punish you again," Love said with a smirk.

Isshin looked over at Shinji before turning to Kisuke and back at his son.

Hachi nodded. "All done."

"Thank you Hachi-san," Isshin said solemnly.

"I'm fine," he said monotonously.

Once Inoue did all that she could do causing her to topple forward from the reiatsu strain. Chad grabbed her lifting her up while; Tessai took Kisuke into the house so that Hachi could take over. As everyone else followed, Byakuya stepped up beside Ichigo.

"Kurosaki Isshin, I believe it would be in everyone's best interest if you leave now," he said emotionlessly. "I believe the damage you have instilled on your son and Urahara-san has been more than enough for one evening."

"Yah you dickhead!" Hiyori huffed and joined Byakuya with a cross of her arms. "How could you do that ter yer son?!"

"Hiyori," Shinji chastised and looked over to Love and Rose. The two sighed heavily and began to drag a flailing Hiyori by her arms.

Byakuya didn't so much as flinch as he continued to stare at Isshin waiting for his departure.

Isshin bowed his head and looked toward his son who refused to look his way. "Y- you're right."

Rukia couldn't hide her surprise for her brother's cold interference. She gently helped Ichigo who was still in shock back to the house, Ururu clinging to him tightly.

(o)

When everyone left that evening, Ichigo moved a sleeping Kisuke to his bedroom where he would be more comfortable than the tatami mats. He lay Kisuke gently down on the bed before removing their clothes and putting him into a simple pair of pants. Ichigo rolled his eyes as Kisuke pretended to be asleep the entire time. Kisuke was almost fully healed except for an internal part inside of his chest which was still damaged and couldn't be healed until Hachi or Inoue recovered their reiatsu.

"You can stop pretending to be asleep now," Ichigo said pushing the man's blond hair out of his eyes and smirked when he saw bright gray stare back at him. "Bastard."

"Ichigo-chan," Kisuke said grinning slowly. "Hm, I liked the special attention."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. Even injured, Kisuke's mind was still perverted. "If I didn't need you, I'd kill your ass."

He rummaged through the drawers for something more comfortable, Kisuke inclined his head so that he could watch Ichigo changing.

After donning on a pair of dark blue pyjama pants, he lay down on his side next to Kisuke and slipped his arm around the man's bare waist holding him snugly. "How ya feeling?"

"Better," Kisuke said gliding his fingers along Ichigo's forearm. "Sorry I scared you, but I couldn't let you get hit."

"I suppose I can't be too mad. I'd have done the same thing."

"What about your dad?"

"Byakuya told him to leave after he was healed and Hiyori joined in as a side kick."

Kisuke laughed only to wince in pain. "How very fun, you?" he then asked in concern.

"I'm alright, just a scratch. I know I have to forgive dad one of these days but I was too horrified to do so right now. He can wait and be miserable for a while."

Kisuke stilled his movements feeling rather tired. "You should forgive him soon."

Ichigo scowled and rested his head against Kisuke's shoulder. "I know that. I just don't feel like it today."

Kisuke smiled and closed his eyes. His mind rewinding to the events of a few hours ago and just recalling it made his heart jerk in fear. He didn't think he'd be able to forgive himself if his own attack hit Ichigo.

Ichigo was almost lulled to sleep when a soft timid knock sounded on the door getting both of their attention. Breathing in sharply, Ichigo crawled off the bed and opened the door. He had to look straight down at the little knocker and actually smiled when he saw Ururu standing there in pink and white pyjamas holding a brown raggy teddy bear.

"I- Ichi, can I-?" she paused and looked down at the ground, her cheeks flushing.

Ichigo dropped a gentle hand on top of her head and led her in. "Come on, it's past your bedtime," he said as she smiled sheepishly.

Kisuke chuckled when Ururu gasped and ran over to him. "Kisuke-san!"

"Ururu-chan," he said curling his arm around her.

"You're alright?" she asked in concern.

"Of course, what do you take me for?"

She blushed. "I was worried!"

Ichigo lifted her into the middle of the bed and then crawled around her.

"I've never had this many people in my bed…" Kisuke hummed. "This should be exciting."

Ichigo snorted as he lay back down, Ururu snuggled up against him as he laid an arm over both.

Ururu blushed. "I couldn't sleep…"

Kisuke shifted on his side with a small wince. "It's alright Ururu-chan. We know it's not me you're worried about," he teased causing Ururu to blush and bury her face into Ichigo who snickered. "See, it's all you Ichigo-chan," he teased locking his fingers with Ichigo's.

"Is that right?" Ichigo asked as Ururu pretended to be asleep. He poked the little girl making her giggle and raise her head.

"I was worried about both! You didn't even talk to anyone," she said wide eyed.

"I forgot everyone existed."

"That's so you Ichigo-chan."

"Somehow between the time I met you and now, I adopted a child…" Ichigo said scrunching his nose.

Kisuke chuckled. "So you did…" he said softly.

Ichigo watched as Kisuke's eyes opened and shut, his body went completely lax and once again the sleep grabbed hold of him. Ichigo smiled and slowly pulled his hand from Kisuke and touched Ururu on the head.

She giggled and snuggled further. "Night Ichi, Kisuke-san."

Ichigo sighed into the darkened room, all of the events of that day having caught up to him. His whole body felt as though it were dragging and even Ururu's continuous movements didn't stop him from falling into a dead like sleep.