Chapter Four
(Seven AM)
"Ichigo it's time for school" Yoruichi shakes the young boy. At first she gets no response and decides to shake him again. "Come on Ichi you don't want to be late. " he gives Yoruichi a slight growl from under the blankets. "I'm up i'm up"
Ichigo climbs out from under the covers and shuffles into the bathroom.
(Fifteen Minutes Later)
Ichigo emerges from the bathroom dressed in his school uniform and walks into the kitchen. "Good morning". Kisuke and Yoruichi smile at the boy. "Good morning young one" "Good morning Ichigo"
He sat at the table as Yoruichi brought some miso soup and rice to the table. Kisuke looked up from the paper he was reading. "Remember Ichigo your Schooling on Soul Society starts today after you get out of karate class." Ichigo nods his head.
They all sit around the table eating. As Ichigo finishes they hear a knock on the door. He runs and opens it to see Tatsuki. "You ready to go Ichigo?" He gave her a smile. "Yeah Tatsuki just let me grab my bag. " Ichigo heads to the back grabbing his bag, giving Kisuke a high five and Getting a hug from Yoruichi. They leave the house and head off towards school.
(With Kisuke & Yoruichi)
"Yoruichi follow in your cat form i'm worried about his hollow. I didn't think him being exposed to our spiritual pressures and his anger would cause his inner hollow to surface before the rest of his powers."
"I understand Kisuke, we should be cautious. We don't need something happening Well he's at school. Yoruichi chanted a few words before she started to shrink and soon an all black cat was in her place. She then took off and followed behind Ichigo.
(School)
Ichigo and Tatsuki entered class And soon after the teacher came in. Class went by as normal, then the lunch bell rang. Ichigo got up and left the class Tatsuki following behind him. They got their lunches from the school cafeteria and proceeded outdoors to the benches to enjoy their lunch. Half way through their lunch three boys approached. "Hey Kurosaki"
Ichigo looks up "What do you want Chaz?"
Chaz gives a chuckle. "Nothing really Kurosaki just trying to figure out why someone like Arisawa here is hanging around with you. If she had half a mind she'd hang around with us."
Tatsuki got off the bench. "Really Chaz, do you think I'd hang around with someone like you and your group. I hang around with Ichigo because unlike your group he's a good person."
"Hahaha, you expect me to believe that this orange haired freak is a good person. All he does is ignore everyone and acts like a know it all during class. It really pisses me of."
Ichigo got up and started to walk towards the school.
"Where do you think you're going Kurosaki. Don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you."
Ichigo turned around. "You're not talking to me though, you're just trying to bully me to make yourself feel better. I'll tell you now it's not going to work, so if you have nothing to say to me then this conversation is over." Ichigo turned back towards the door.
"Fine if your going to leave I guess me and the boys can entertain Arisawa."
"I'd rather die then hang out with you three."
Chaz started to laugh before smirking. "That's an ironic choice of words. We all know if you continue to hang around Kurosaki you will end up dead just like his mother. We've heard the stories It's a bit weird that his mother dies and he gets sent to live with someone else. His father probably sent him away so his sist-
Before Chaz could finish his sentence Ichigo had him by his collar and lifted him off the ground. Chaz's eyes widened as he watched Ichigo's eyes go from brown to gold. "You have a lot of nerve talking about my mother and sisters. If you wanted to get a reaction out of me you succeeded." Ichigo tossed Chaz into the picnic table before stalking towards him. Chaz's lackeys Tried to stop him But backed off once they saw his eyes.
Ichigo stepped onto the picnic table and held Chaz down as he cocked his fist back.
Ichigo brought down his fist towards Chaz only to have it caught when he saw who stopped his fist he froze. "Yoruichi"
She smiled at the young boy before pulling him into a hug. "Calm down Ichigo. I know what he said was wrong however just let it go."
"But Yoruichi he said things about my mother and sisters I can't forgive him for this."
She rubbed the boys head. "I'm not telling you to forgive him I'm just telling you to let it go. You can hate him there's just no reason to hurt him."
She gave him another tight hug. She rubbed his head while he calmed down. "You feeling better now"
He looked up. "Yeah Yoruichi i'm fine now." "Good, I think it's time you head back to class. Focus on your school work and try to ignore everyone. I'll be there to pick you up from school. You should skip karate for today. With this incident Kisuke and I have to explain some things to you. "
Ichigo stepped away from Yoruichi giving her a nod before turning to the school and heading for class.
Yoruichi turned and started to walk away until she heard her name called. "What just happened to Ichigo? He was like a different person he's never let Chaz's bullying bother him even when he's mentioned his mother or sister's."
"I'm sorry Tatsuki but I can't tell you why he reacted the way he did. Once we figure out the cause it will be up to Ichigo if he wants to tell you or not." She then turned on her heels and left leaving Tatsuki to look confused before rushing to class as the bell rang.
(End of School)
Ichigo breathed a sigh or relief as the final bell rang signaling the end of the school day. He couldn't wait to get home, he needed to hear what Kisuke and Yoruichi had to say. He noticed the slight tone difference in Yoruichi's voice told him something was wrong and he's been worried since then.
He moved from his seat and headed out of class as he turned the corner he nearly crashed into Tatsuki. "Yo Ichigo where are you off to we have Karate class today."
"I know Tatsuki and i'm sorry but Yoruichi said I should take today off from Karate. Also Kisuke and Yoruichi need to talk to me about something."
She gave Ichigo a worried look before she hugged him. "I'll see you tomorrow then, and remember if you need to talk I'm here for you."
He hugged her back. "I know you are and i'm here for you."
Their hug lasted a few more seconds before they let go of one another and went there separate ways.
Ichigo walked over to Yoruichi and they made there way home, neither deciding to talk.
(Home)
The two entered the house. Ichigo went towards the living room while Yoruichi went to find Kisuke a few moments later all three were sitting down.
"So what do you need to talk to me about. I noticed there was worry in your voice, is something wrong?" The two adults looked at each other before Kisuke sighed.
"To answer your question young one there is one problem and it does involve you."
Ichigo looked slightly worried until Yoruichi put a reassuring arm around him and gave a smile.
Kisuke continued. "It's nothing you should worry yourself over. But due to Yoruichi and my carelessness we awoke something in you."
Ichigo looked confused. "what do you mean you awoke something in me, what's inside of me?" He looked up at Yoruichi.
"Ichigo I didn't want to tell you this so soon but inside you lurks a hollow."
Ichigo looked at Yoruichi afraid. "It isn't true is it. I can't have one of those monsters inside me." He then backed away from Yoruichi.
With fear in his eyes Ichigo asked. "Ar..are you going to purify me?"
Yoruichi went to reach for Ichigo however he pulled away and backed himself into the corner. That action caused Yoruichi to back away a little bit. "You don't need to worry my little Protector, Kisuke and I would never do that to you. We love you."
Ichigo gives them both a quick glance before moving back to the couch. "So then what are you two going to do with me?"
Kisuke smiled before patting Ichigo on the head. "Well young one, first I'm going to need a blood sample so I can examine the hollow reshi that's running through your bloodstream. After that I'll make you a necklace that will cut off the hollow reshi running through your body just enough to stop the mood swings."
Ichigo thought over what Kisuke just said before agreeing to the idea. Kisuke went to his lab to retrieve the needle and blood tube, he came back a few moments later drawing the necessary blood and putting a bandaid on.
"I'm going to get working on analyzing the blood. While I'm doing that Yoruichi will start you on your first introductory material to soul society life and the noble clans."
Ichigo nodded at what Kisuke said and followed Yoruichi out of the living room.
(Ichigo's room/classroom)
When Ichigo entered the room with Yoruichi, he noticed a single desk and a chalkboard in the middle of his room. Taking a quick moment to look at the other things that decorated his classroom/room, Ichigo took a seat in the desk as Yoruichi took her place in front of the chalkboard.
"Now then are you ready for your first lesson?" Ichigo stood up from his chair and gave a bow. "Yes Yoruichi Sensei."
Yoruichi smiled. "Good, today we will start with introductions into Soul Society and Seireitei life as well as touch on the four great noble clans." Ichigo gave a nod in understanding before Yoruichi started her lecture.
"As you already know Soul Society is a place where the souls who are ferried off by Shinigami go. Soul Society is broken up into two parts the Seireitei and Rukongai. Rukongai is broken up into 320 districts, 80 to the north, 80 to the south, 80 to the east and 80 to the west. Souls with no spiritual pressure often wake up in one of the upper districts, mostly fifty through eighty. Souls with average spiritual pressure are known to appear any where from district twenty-one to district forty-nine and souls with above average are most commonly found in districts one through twenty."
Yoruichi took a moment to let Ichigo process the information. Ichigo took this moment to raise his hand.
"Yes Ichigo, do you have a question?"
"Is there a possibility to find souls with average or above average spiritual pressure in the higher numbered districts?"
Yoruichi pondered the question.
"There are a many instances where people with any amount of spiritual pressure have come from the higher numbered districts. It is also the same for the souls with no spiritual pressure there is a chance for them to appear in the lower districts. Does that answer your questions."
Ichigo nodded
"Good let's continue with the lesson."
(One Hour Later)
"That wraps up our introductory lesson into Soul Society living. Now we will do a quick introduction of the four great noble clans and what duties are required of each clan."
Ichigo gave a nod in understanding
"the four great noble families are the biggest clans in all of the seireitei. Their elders make up the ruling body of central forty-six. The noble clans are looked up to as role model's by the lesser clans. The four clans are the Kuchiki, the Shihoin, the Shiba and the kasamiyoji. Each clan is looked after by a clan head and each clan head is tasked with certain duties.i won't go into detail right now, however i will tell you what each clan as a whole is tasked with."
She picked up a piece of chalk and continued to talk as she wrote down the names of the four great noble clans.
"The Kuchiki clan are the record keepers of the Seireitei, everything that happens in Soul Society is immediately documented by them and stored in their clan archives."
"The Shiba clan is tasked with overseeing the people of Rukongai and scouting for souls with spiritual pressure. The members of the shiba clan are known to get along very well with the people of Soul Society."
"The Shihoin clan upholds the laws inside the Seireitei, through their connections with the stealth force. The Shihoin clan head is normally the leader of the stealth force."
Ichigo took the brief pause in her speech to raise his hand
"Yes Ichigo."
"Your last name is Shihoin, does that mean you are apart of the clan?"
At hearing the question she gave a short breath
"That is correct Ichigo, I am a member of the Shihoin clan. In truth i'm the former clan head and former leader of the stealth force."
Ichigo looks at her in amazement.
"Do you ever miss your old life or anyone from your clan?" Yoruichi paused for a short time. "I don't really miss my old life i was constantly fussed over by the elders and never allowed to be is someone however that i miss, my younger brother Yushiro." Ichigo got up from his desk and gave Yoruichi a hug. "I'm sure he misses you to." Yoruichi returned the hug before picking the young boy up and spinning him around. "Don't forget my little protector you're also part of the shihoin clan. You may not be blood related but in Soul Society adoption is as legitimate as being blood related.
She placed him down and let him return to his desk
"Now then were was i, oh right the final clan. The Kasumioji clan is tasked with overseeing finances coming in and out of Soul Society as well as exchanging soul currency into any form of human world currency."
"That will conclude our first lesson, every weekday Kisuke or I will teach you something new. Every Saturday we will review all the material you learned throughout the week and every Sunday there will be a test. One last thing at the end of every month we will test you again this time on everything you learned throughout the month. We will continue with these lessons until you know the same if not more knowledge about the Soul Society than the Captains of the Gotei Thirteen.