Breath of Life
Strain
"Hey sis... where are you going?" Ganju's voice came from behind, causing Kukaku to turn her head to look at the youngest of her brother's.
"Nowhere that you need to know that I'm going. I need you to stay here and mind the place anyways. Be on your best behavior for Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko. Otherwise you'll pay big time when I get home." The woman gave him a big smile, causing him to in turn give her a rather stupid look. She was able to turn though and head off, losing the smile for a more serious look. She stepped through the gate into Urahara's shop.
"So... I take it Ichigo talked to you?"
The woman turned her head, frowning at the man as she did so. "How long have you known that Isshin was alive?"
"I'm the one who helped cover his tracks so that Soul Society wouldn't do what you know full well that Soul Society is known for." The man folded his arms across his chest. "You do understand why Isshin choose not to let you know?"
"I know full well why he didn't tell us. Keeping us safe doesn't make me any less mad at him though." The woman cracked her neck and then her back. "I'm here for a gigai, not to chat with you."
"Ah... but I want to hear the conversation between your aniki and you as well as see the look on his face as you make it clear how you feel about what he did."
"Well, if you're not careful I'll give you a bit of the same punishment." The woman gave him one of her smiles, only to again have it leave. This time though she didn't care about hiding the fact she wasn't in a good mood and stood leaning against the wall while he made his preparations. Thankfully though he didn't speak to her anymore about her particular family situation.
She then headed over to the Kurosaki Clinic, her lips pushed together as she walked. Arriving at the clinic she placed her hands on her hips and read the sign outside the place. "It's still during business hours so I'll go and wait for him in his house. I won't announce I'm coming either as I'll be able to get my point across better by surprising him if possible."
The woman walked up to the front door and opened it, stepping into the house. What she saw caused the corner of her mouth to twitch. The sound of breaking glass came from the direction of what she presumed to be the kitchen area directing the two people she could see's attention to the kitchen thus making it so they didn't notice she had entered the room.
Kaien's face had a look of shock, causing Kukaku to bite the inside of her mouth. "Damn bastards shocked he got caught. What the hell has gotten into him?"
"Toshiro... this isn't what it looks like."
"Great... our older brother's third seat is here as well." The woman took a deep breath. "What doesn't this look like?"
Kaien's mouth remained open, turning his head to look at the woman. "You are..."
"What do you mean, 'you are'? You should know who I am?" Kukaku folded her arms across her chest, only to see the girl on the couch with Kaien suddenly get up and step around the couch to face her. The girl's eyes were watery, making it all to obvious she was upset.
"I don't know who you are, or what you're doing in our house. You can't just walk into a persons house without announcing yourself."
"I was going to announce myself if someone was here, but then I saw that. I'm also assuming that she is my niece. I was hoping that it was one of the girls friends. This though is worse." The woman felt the corner of her mouth twitch. "Excuse me?" Kukaku began to step forward, forcing the girl to step back away from her. "I don't think you have the right to lecture me right now, either one of you."
A yelp was heard from the kitchen and she turned her head slightly to see Toshiro come hobbling out of nowhere, grabbing the girls arm and dragging her up the stairs. Something about his face said that he wasn't pleased, though the blood dripping on the floor might be the indicator of why he wasn't to happy right now. She turned her attention then to the man. "You..."
"It..." The man looked at her as if he didn't know her.
"Hentai." Kukaku watched as he flinched as she used words she had always reserved for her eldest brother. "Lecher. Pervert. Deviant. Reprobate. Subverted miscreant hentai. What are you going to do when Isshin finds out?"
"You're going to tell him..." The man backed away slightly.
"Of course I am! You're hitting on your own niece, trying to make a move on her. Why shouldn't I tell him you want to bang her!"
"He's going to kill me." Kaien backed away from her. "No way he's going to listen... he..."
The next thing she knew he was heading towards the door. Her hand reached out to grab the sleeve of shirt. "Kaien..."
"No... I don't know who you are, but the look you're giving me..." His hand brushed her own away, causing the frown she had to deepen. The front door then slammed shut.
M
Toshiro found himself staring wide eyed at the two, his mind not wanting to believe what was happening. Kaien's mouth was twisted up into a frown. "Why isn't he reacting?"
"Toshiro..." The words came out of the man's mouth in a half chocked manner. "This isn't what it looks like."
"Seems like he's in as big of a shock of this happening as you are." Hyorinmaru thankfully wasn't laughing at the situation. Yuzu's eyes were wide and it looked like she was either going to yell at him, cry really loudly or even do both.
It was then that another voice Toshiro hadn't expected came to the room. Kaien of course didn't recognize the person, but the white haired child could identify her by her voice. Yuzu's disposition quickly changed and she attempted to go and confront the woman, the fact she had been caught causing her to not react with a level head. This in turn caused Kukaku to come down hard on her.
The boy stepped forward then to pull Karin's sister out of the situation, completely forgetting the fact he was wearing only socks. A piece of glass from the item he broke went into his foot. Instead of trying to get it out, he quickly hobbled over to Yuzu and pulled the girl up the stairs before spinning her around so that both hands were on her shoulders. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"
"It... I... I didn't... I didn't do anything wrong."
"He's your uncle!"
"No he's not. Just because his ex-girlfriend shows up doesn't mean..."
Without realizing he was doing it, Toshiro's hand came to hit her cheek hard. "He's your uncle. I know he's your uncle. That woman also isn't his girlfriend, nor his ex-girlfriend. She's his twin, your aunt."
"You're lying." Tears began to trickle down her face.
"Look, I'm sorry I..."
Before he could say 'hit you' Yuzu interupted. "I hate you!"
She then stormed into the room she and Karin shared. Toshiro hobbled over and knocked on the door, only to be told to go away. He tried the door knob, only to find it locked. Letting out a sound of annoyance he hobbled back down stairs. "So... where is the first aid kit?"
"Shiba-san?"
"Come on kid. Surely you know where it is? I have something I want to ask you, so go and sit on the couch." The woman headed over to the kitchen.
"Upper cupboard closest to the living area, top shelf." Toshiro watched as she got the item, noting that her face had a furious look. "Just to let you know, he didn't do anything. It was all her fault."
The woman paused what she was doing. "What do you mean?"
"Kurosaki came home early today and when she got upset about him not believing that she wasn't feeling well he took her temperature. She then did... that."
"Why would he be so insistent that it didn't look like what it honestly looks like?"
"Honestly don't know. Maybe he didn't know how long I was in the room or how much I'd heard." Toshiro flinched as she sat down near his injured foot.
She carefully lifted it up into her lap, removing the small shards of glass. "So why aren't you at school with Ichigo."
"Bad luck... really bad luck." The boy realized she would want more information. "Shiba rescued me yesterday in front of Kurosaki and I got hauled back injured. Kurosaki noticed that I wasn't doing well as did Kuchiki so I got sent home."
"I have an idea who Kurosaki and Kuchiki are in your second sentence, but who are Shiba and Kurosaki in your first?"
"The other girl and the one who isn't here anymore. Where did he go. He was just with you."
"I know he was. I've always been able to find him and my other brothers when I need to. Why though did he say he doesn't recognize me?"
"The only person he actually recognizes is taicho." Toshiro glanced at the ceiling. "He thinks he used to couch soccer and that I was a member of the soccer team."
Kukaku paused in what she was doing. "So he honestly doesn't recognize me."
"By the way. The Kurosaki upstairs is of the honest impression that you are his ex-girlfriend and is in serious denial that he is her uncle. I am not understanding that mentality."
A smile came to Kukaku's face before she reached out and ruffled Toshiro's hair. "You've always been a great kid, seeing what others don't."
"I didn't see anything that no one else could this time."
"You said you don't understand that mentality. Everything for you is based around logic." Kukaku set his foot on the couch. "Stay off that foot, otherwise Isshin won't be the only one tanning your hide. Don't tell him I'm here yet either, or anyone else. I'll try to find my twin."
She stood up then to leave, only to have Toshiro grab her sleeve. "It isn't as if he doesn't remember something about you. He keeps calling your niece... the one I'm good friends with... he keeps calling her by your first name. I'm guessing she looks a lot like you did when you were younger."