Title: My Sister
Genre: Family/Mild Romance
Characters: Ryuken, Masaki and Isshin
Summary: Ryuken is over protective of Masaki and doesn't like the idea of Isshin being around, but he finds himself being able to deal with it.
Notes: So I've seen one or more one-shots cropping up where the summary says the story features one-sided Ryuken/Masaki, I'm honestly not surprised as it is possible to come to the conclusion that Ryuken has romantic feelings for Masaki, though I don't agree that interpretation is right. There is at this point no indicator that he thinks of her as a sibling, but I do think that is the way he thinks of her.
Rating: K+

My Sister

The idea of marrying Masaki was something that churned his stomach and in the long run wasn't something that he wanted to think about, but every so often it would crop up. What other option though did they have as they needed to maintain the Quincy bloodline and make it so that they would continue on as they were. It was something that had been drilled in to his head as well as the half-Quincy hybrids... there would always be a line of purity to rule over them.

In truth nothing seemed right about the situation and he was constantly trying to think of a way out. Masaki was... well, there was the age gap to start with. The girl was in high school and he was in college and preparing to become a doctor so he could support his future family. Supposidly this future family would have Masaki as the mother and him as the head, but that honestly didn't feel right.

There was also the fact he had watched her grow up from the time she was a tiny baby. He felt a love of a kind for her and if they did indeed marry he guessed it could grow into something more, but the love he felt was honestly that of a brother towards his sister. This wasn't something he could explain to his mother, who felt that the Quincy line needed to continue no matter what and he didn't know how to address his father.

And then there was Katigiri, the untouchable. He had known her since childhood and had grown up with her. She was untouchable because her bloodline was impure. Those of pure blood were to run in the social circles of the pure blood, they were the socially elliete. But there was also the fact that a pure blood having a relationship with a gemischt would only end up tainting the bloodline, thus causing them to never have a chance.

Katigiri had honestly believed that Ryuken had been quite happy with marrying Masaki because he would be marrying her out of love, but then he had to go and tell her that he only cared about the Quincy's future. She of course took it the wrong way and thought he meant that he was choosing to marry Masaki to keep the bloodline pure, but in truth that wasn't what he had been thinking at all. No, he was thinking that he would void the contract his and Masaki's families had agreed to.

And why would he think this? In truth he had in the long run thought about the Quincy's future and realized that there would be no point for him and Masaki marrying as they were the only ones of a pure bloodline. So it went without saying that their children would not be able to marry anyone of pure blood. If she so choose to marry him when she came of age, then he would agree to the marriage, but only then.

And truth be told he hoped that Masaki would out right refuse. He did of course see her as a sister and found himself wanting to chase all the males around her away not because he was jealous, but because that over protective brother syndrome would kick in and he couldn't stand the idea of any male touching or harming his sister. Which is why he became as angry as he did with that particular Shinigami.

That Shinigami had gotten his sister hurt. That Shinigami was the reason she was in so much pain. And there was something else that bothered him that he couldn't put his finger on, something that he wanted to fight against at all costs. And who was he kidding... chances are he wouldn't have voided the marriage simply because of the negative stigma. Doing it just for Masaki's feelings was a joke. There was no opportunity for him to break away, not with the way his mother was watching.

No, not marrying Masaki would break the all important Quincy code. Their children should be the one to deal with this mess. There was no way he could throw away his duty just to make Masaki happy. He would marry her despite the fact she would become a shadow of herself and slowly fade away. Sure, it was wrong when he thought about it, but he didn't want to have any regrets because he choose to save one person.

And then this Isshin said it. He said that he would do it despite the fact it would be rather obvious that he would be sacrificing a lot. In fact, there was no telling what all that man would have to sacrifice just to save Masaki, and she was a complete stranger. But here he was saying yeah, he had a lot of regrets. However, those regrets didn't measure up to doing what was right, saving the person who had in turn saved his life.

It was then that Ryuken felt ashamed of himself and his mind carefully poured over what he was thinking. It was indeed better to have the regrets then to regret not doing the right thing when you could do so. He knew what would happen when they headed home, despite the fact it would cause a major scene. No, his mother wouldn't be happy at all.

He opened his eyes and saw that Masaki was sitting up and suddenly he felt her launch himself at him and wrap her arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry to make you worry Ryu-chan."

He felt himself carefully hugging her, feeling that her body was still recovering. He glanced over at the young man who had saved his sister. "I need to explain to you what is going on."

Masaki paused. "He did something to save me, right?"

"We'll talk about it when we get back to the house."

"But what about him?"

"Shiba Isshin?" Urahara turned to look at the young man. "He can stay with me and help me keep my shop for room and board, but..."

"Can't he go back to Soul Society?"

Isshin found himself suddenly smiling at her. "Ahh, don't worry. I came here on important buisness because I had a feeling there was something I had to do."

"A feeling that there was something he had to do." Ryuken frowned. "He had a feeling Masaki was in trouble?"

"You're lying."

Isshin frowned at her and refused to say anything, so Ryuken decided to speak for him. "He sacrificed his powers so you could live."

"Then shouldn't he come and stay with us."

"This rather uncouth buffoon? Mother would just die of horror... no, on second thought it would be interesting to see the look on her face when we brought her home. And I really can't refuse Masaki as she is my cute little sister." Ryuken nodded his head. "He can stay with us. He needs to learn about the world of the living as he is going to be living here and likely doesn't have a clue about anything. You two seem to be around the same age."

The Shinigami... former Shinigami turned and looked at him, scratching his head as he did so. "Huh?"

"I was thinking of playing matchmaker as you did something pretty amazing for Masaki, but now I'm not wanting you near her again moron." Ryuken lifted Masaki up. "Well, are you coming or not."

"I don't think she and I are around the same age. I'm over a hundred years old you know." Isshin suddenly piped up.

"Really?" Masaki's interest perked. "I could have sworn you looked to be in high school like myself."

Urahara piped up. "Don't worry... the two of you are around the same physical age. Shinigami age differently. That's something you'll have to get used to Shiba Isshin. You'll be aging differently in that gigai I gave you."

"By the way... do you remember how I said I had a lot of regrets?" Isshin piped up once they had gotten going.

"Now that things are said and done, you're worrying about that?" Ryuken felt himself becoming rather irritated with this young man.

"I just figured I'd forewarn you that some of these regrets may come poking around. Since I can't see Hollows anymore I won't be able to see them either. Saving Masaki-chan though was important, so I didn't have time to warn you. It is as I said a rather long list."

"And they would involve..."

"The head captain of the gotei thirteen burning down your house, my former fukutaicho throwing stuff at my head, my third seat throwing a tantrum and calling Masaki-chan and you Ryu-chan names..."

"It's Ishida thank you very much..."

"And my family coming and crashing your place riding boars. Particularly my youngest brother."

Ryukin suddenly stopped walking, causing Isshin to crash into him as Masaki began to giggle "Stop trying to make jokes."

"I wasn't joking. My twin brother and I found a baby boar and brought it home and now our kid brother rides around with the..."

"Please stop..."

"But it's a funny story Ryukin!"

"He can tell you one of his funny stories later Masaki." The young man arrived back at the place and half expected Isshin to say the place was big, but instead he got no response. They headed in and he saw his mother having a complete fit and his father was already home. Katagiri's eyes were wide as she obviously recognized Isshin and she clapped a hand over her mouth. Ryukin set Masaki down. "We will be having a guest staying with us for awhile. His name is Shiba Isshin."

He watched his father, half expecting him to be upset about bringing home a perfect stranger. The man though just stared at Isshin that spoke up. "You are a Shinigami, are you not?"

"Was is more like it." Isshin spoke up.

"I take it losing your powers was the solution to our Masaki's problem?"

"Yes sir. Please to meet you sir."

"There is no problem with you staying."

"Dear..." Ryukin watched as his mother turned to protest.

"We have a very distinguished guest visiting us. Katagiri, could you make preparations for dinner with that considered?"

"Yes sir." The female had a rather surprised look on her face before taking off to order the other maids around.

"You don't have to go through all that trouble just for me."

"Yes we do!" Masaki began to walk off. "I'm going to go and help Katagiri decide on a menu."

"Why don't I and Isshin head to my office to speak about the future."

"Yes... but." Ryuken's mother didn't say anything, only to glance away. When the two were gone, she turned to her son. "I hope he doesn't interfere with your marriage to Masaki-san."

"Masaki and I aren't going to get married." He watched the look of horror appear on his mother's face. "What is the point of maintaining the bloodline for one more generation? I've been thinking about it and our children can't marry each other, and Masaki and I are like siblings. It doesn't feel right. I am going to go to father's office right now."

"But..."

Ryuken knocked on the door and then headed in. Isshin was sitting in one of the chairs. "I'm surprised that you are fine with the Shinigami staying with us."

"I've always felt that the Shinigami and Quincy should work together. Young man, how would the head of your clan feel about the actions you've taken today."

"He would be quite fine with my actions, however his uncle and the rest of his family would not be."

"Your family will be devastated to lose the head of its family."

"It would be even more devastating for me to not have saved Masaki's life."

"Well, I welcome you to our family."

Ryuken stared at the youthful shinigami. "Well I'm not sure I'm ready to welcome him. Despite being the supposed head of what ever family he's a part of he is rather crass about everything."