Hybrid Protector

Beta:DazLex

A/N:This is a six month time skip. It's to give Ichigo a chance to come to terms and heal a little. Before he learns of the Soul Society and other supernatural forces.

Chapter Three

It's been six Months since the death of Masaki Kurosaki. It's also the same time a Young Ichigo Kurosaki found himself in the care of Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara.

"Ichigo it's time to wake up."

"Five more minutes Yoru." Yoruichi looked fondly at the young boy who was snuggled into her side.

"I'm sorry Ichigo but today Kisuke and I have something we need to tell you." Ichigo shifted slightly before removing the covers and stretching.

"What do you and Kisuke want to tell me." Yoruichi got out of bed and rubbed the top of his head.

"That my little protector is a secret, now how about you go wash up and get dressed I'll meet you in the dining room."

"Alright Yoru." Ichigo sped off to his room to gather his clothes before heading into the bathroom.

(20 Minutes Later)

Ichigo emerged from the bathroom fully clothed and made his way to the dining room to see everyone waiting for him.

"Sorry it took so long."

"That's quite alright Ichigo,come sit." Ichigo walked over to his chair that was positioned between Yoruichi and Kisuke.

"So Kisuke when will you tell me this secret that Yoru mentioned." Kisuke looks at the boy with a smile on his face.

"That young Ichigo will come during lunch. Until then however you're just gonna have to be patient. Can you do that?" Ichigo gave Kisuke a critical look. He's learned over the past six months to take everything Kisuke says and try to analyze the voice pattern as well as how he says each individual word. After a few seconds Ichigo focuses back on Kisuke and gives a slight smile.

"Sure Kisuke I can wait." Kisuke returned the smile while also thinking to himself.

;He's beginning to think more and more with each thing I say to him. I'm glad this critical thinking will help him later on.; The trio spent the next ten minutes enjoying breakfast while also talking amongst one another. Once breakfast was finished and Ichigo brought their plates to the kitchen he went to find Yoruichi. Finding said person relaxing on the couch. Ichigo noticed that her eyes were closed. He then decided to sneak up on her. As he crept slowly towards her she shifted to lay flat on her back. When she stopped moving Ichigo continued towards her. When he finally reached her he was just about to jump on her when two arms grabbed his sides and lifted him up above the couch.

"You know Ichigo you're going to need to try harder than that if you want to sneak up on me. I could hear your footsteps as well as your breathing." Ichigo looked slightly disappointed that he was caught. He soon forgot about his disappointment as Yoruichi set him down on her lap and began to tickle him. Soon laughter filled the home as both Yoruichi and Ichigo were now laughing uncontrollably.

"Okay okay I give Yoru I give up." Yoruichi stopped tickling him.

"So Ichigo is there anything you want to do?" He took a moment to think before shaking his head.

"Not really Yoru i'm fine just laying here with you. She gave him a very loving look.

"Is there any reason why you just want to lay here with me. Kids your age are usually full of energy."

"It's not that i don't have energy it's just that i like laying down with you. You keep the nightmares away and when you wrap your arms around me i feel safe. You remind me so much of my mother you were both kind and caring. She would give me the same smile you give me everyday. It's a smile full of love, a smile only a mother can have. I'd like to know what you really think of me Yoru." Yoruichi took a moment to think over everything Ichigo just said before wrapping her arms around the boy.

"To me Ichigo you are my son. When your dad first came to us to ask us to watch over you and for you to live here I decided on that day I would treat you as my son. I've done just that however don't think because i treat you as my own that i'm trying to replace your mother. I will never do that but I hope that one day you can think of me like you think of her now." Ichigo was quiet for a few moments as he tried to process everything she just said.

;Yoru thinks of me as her own son, but she doesn't want to replace my mother. I'm so confused is it wrong that I compare mom to Yoruichi. Would mom be upset if i started to think of Yoru as my mother or would she be happy that i'm not letting her death cause me more pain by rejecting this woman who has tried her hardest to be the motherly figure I need. I can't say for now but i can at least tell her that i see her as a motherly figure.;

After focusing on Yoruichi, Ichigo gave her a huge smile. "You don't need to worry Yoru, I think of you as a second mother. I really don't know how mom would feel about this but I do know that she would be thanking you for being the mother figure that I needed after her death."

Yoruichi was stunned at what she heard. ;He does think of me as his mother.; "Ichigo I'm so glad you feel that way. I hope I can continue to be the mother that you want and need." She gave him a quick hug before he settled in beside her. They stared at the ceiling for almost a half hour before Yoruichi herd light snoring. Looking down she chuckled at the sight of him fast asleep.

;He must of still been tired, I'll wake him before lunch.; She ran her hand through his hair. "Sleep well my little protector, your life is about to be much more complicated. I will do everything in my power to make sure you are prepared."

(Four Hours Later)

Ichigo stirs from his sleep, looking up into the eyes of Yoruichi. "Sleep well Ichigo?" He rubs the sleep from his eyes. "Yea, is it time for lunch yet i'm hungry." She rubs his head. "Sure is kid i was just about to wake you." A still sleepy Ichigo nods before sliding off of her and shambling into the dining room. Yoruichi made her way into the kitchen grabbing bread, peanut butter and some strawberry jelly. She also fished out two plates and made her way to the table. She made him a sandwich before making herself one. "Hey Yoru are you telling me the secret after we eat." Yoruichi looked at him. "Yes i will but so will Kisuke." He gave a large smile before returning to his sandwich.

(Five Minutes Later)

After they finished their food, Yoruichi led Ichigo into the living room before going to get Kisuke. A moment later she returned with him. Kisuke sat opposite Ichigo while Yoruichi sat next to him.

"So what's this secret i've been going crazy waiting." Yoruichi and Kisuke locked eyes before nodding. "Tell me Ichigo do you know what the afterlife is?" Ichigo looked at Kisuke confused. "Isn't that where dead people go."

"Very good Ichigo that's exactly right. Now have you ever noticed the ghosts that follow you around." Ichigo nodded "Alright well those ghosts are called pluses. They are the souls of the departed who have not crossed over to the other side. The afterlife which most people know it as is actually a place called Soul Society." Kisuke paused his lecture to make sure Ichigo was still following him. When he saw no sign of confusion on the boys face he continued. "The Soul Society is broken up into two areas. Those areas are the 90 districts of Rukongai and the Seireitei. Rukongai is where most of the souls reside but certain individuals can make their way from Rukongai to the Seireitei to become what's known as a shinigami or a soul reaper. Their job is to farry the souls of the dead over to Soul Society by using a technique called konso."

Kisuke continued to explain the ins and outs of a soul reapers duties while always keeping an eye on Ichigo to make sure he doesn't get confused. After thirty minutes Kisuke wraps up his lecture and waits patiently for Ichigo to process everything.

After a few moments of processing everything Kisuke just said. Ichigo looks up at the man. "Some of what you said makes sense but the idea of these monsters called hollows and soul reapers with magical swords seems like a made up fairy tale."

Kisuke gives a slight chuckle before opening his fan in front of his face. "I figured you wouldn't fully believe what i told you. In any other instance you have reason to think I'm lying but regarding this I'm being one hundred percent truthful."

Ichigo looked into Kisuke's eyes looking for something to tell he's lying. When he found nothing he sighed well running his hand through his hair. "I see that you're telling the truth but if i'm truly going to believe you I need proof."

Ichigo looks over to Yoruichi when he hears her laugh. " If you need proof Kisuke and I can supply that proof." Ichigo almost screamed in surprise as a second Yoruichi appeared in front of the first one.

"Um Yoru why are their two of you and why did your outfit change?" Yoruichi gives a smile to the boy before disappearing and picking the boy up from behind startling him. "Well Ichi to answer your first question that body over there is what's known as a gigai it's an invention created by Kisuke to allow shinigami like Kisuke and I to interact with and live as normal humans. For your second question, this black robe is called a shihakusho it's standard wear for shinigami but the white garment i'm wearing over it is special. It signifies captaincy among the soul reapers there is no higher honor than being granted the rank of captain."

Ichigo looks at Yoruichi. "What's so great about being a captain?"

"well Ichigo there are only thirteen captains at any given moment and they are the strongest of the shinigami. Each captain has the honor of overseeing their own squad. That's why they're known as the gotei thirteen or the thirteen court guard squads."

Ichigo looks over at Kisuke only to look at him in amazement. Standing before Ichigo is a second Kisuke with the same black robe and similar white over coat. It took Ichigo a moment before he could find his voice. "you're both captains. How can you be here if your supposed to look over a whole squad?"

Kisuke gives a laugh. "That's an easy one Young Ichigo we are former captains. Our positions were filled when we were unjustly chased out of soul society for a crime we didn't commit. Instead of central forty-six hearing us out they ordered our execution so we had no choice but to flee and now here we are."

Ichigo felt a little bubble of anger form while listening to Kisuke. "how can they do that you're both too nice to commit any crime let alone one that demands your immediate execution. I swear when I die I'm going to kill every single member of central forty-six for what they did to you two."

Kisuke and Yoruichi were speechless by what they were not only hearing but seeing. As Ichigo continued to get angrier well talking about central forty-six a black substance started leaking from his tear ducts and started encroaching towards his iris soon half his scalea was black and his iris was gold in color.

Yoruichi got over her shock and hugged the boy. Ichigo you don't need to worry about central 46 I think it's for the best that we were forced to flee. Kisuke and I moving to the human realm was worth it because we have you Ichigo. It definitely hurt when we were forced to leave so many people behind but we adjusted to it."

She looked Ichigo in the eyes. "We'll never look back on the ones we lost but instead look forward to the one we have. We'll never leave you so don't get angry." Ichigo looked up at Yoruichi and smiled while she gave a sigh of relief watching the black mist recede and his irises return to their natural brown.

After Ichigo calmed down. Kisuke and Yoruichi got back in their bodies. They sat in complete silence before Ichigo spoke up. "Why are you telling me this. What do i have to do with any of this?" Ichigo looks between Kisuke and Yoruichi.

"The reason we are telling you this is because you have a lot of spirit energy and it's only going to increase as you get older. It's only a matter of time before you have a run in with soul society so Kisuke and I will teach you everything we know about the soul society from the four great noble houses to the current captains and lieutenants of the gotei thirteen. Once your general knowledge studies is complete we will work on conditioning your body so you can handle your power. We promise here and now both Kisuke and I will make sure you are ready when you come in contact with a shinigami."

Ichigo looked at the two in slight awe before agreeing.

Yoruichi pat Ichigo on the head. "we'll start your teachings tomorrow for today however let's go play outside.