Chapter 8

"Where is he?!" Hiyori exclaimed.

"In the office," a random squad member answered.

"Damn him! I swear I'm going to kick his ass!" Hiyori growled, stomping angrily towards the office.

She banged on the door.

"Oi! Dumbass! Get out here now! It's been a week already!" she yelled.

There was no answer.

"Damn, what is he doing in there?" Hiyori groaned in frustration and kicked the door.

"Mind being quiet, Lieutenant? You are being quite annoying right now and it is interfering with my research," Kurotsuchi said.

"You shut up!" Hiyori exclaimed.

She kicked the door again.

"Ugh! Stupid bastard!" she growled before stalking out of the laboratory.

"Lieutenant Sarugaki, where are you going?"

"I'll be back soon," Hiyori said instead.

In the next second, she was gone, flash stepping out of the barracks. It only took her a few moments to reach her location. She banged on the doors.

"Oi! Open up!" she yelled.

The doors opened up, interrupting her from punching the doors down.

"What is it?" the masked individual asked.

"I'm Lieutenant Hiyori Sarugaki from squad 12. I need to see Captain Shihoin. Tell her it's urgent," Hiyori said, crossing her hands.

She was let in and led through the barracks. Yoruichi was sipping tea, Sui-Feng at her side as always. Yoruichi looked up when Hiyori and her escort came in.

"Lady Yoruichi, Lieutenant Sarugaki of squad 12 has asked to see you. She said it was an urgent matter," her escort said.

"All right, let's hear it," Yoruichi said.

The escort left.

"Since you're here, I assume something happened to Kisuke?" Yoruichi asked.

"Has he ever locked himself away for a week before?" Hiyori asked, crossing his arms.

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow.

"Sometimes, but mostly because he's too focused and forgets about everything else," she said.

"Well, he's been in his office for a full week now, but none of us have sensed him working on anything," Hiyori said.

Yoruichi sat up straight and leaned forward, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"Did anything happen a week ago to make him like this?" she asked.

Hiyori frowned.

"Like what exactly?"

Yoruichi hummed.

"Let's see...did Ichigo catch him snooping near the squad 11 barracks?" she asked.

"Not that I know of," Hiyori said. "Although, last week, Ichigo and I visited the Shiba mansion. We came back dressed in kimonos for the festival in two weeks, nothing too fancy, thankfully. Maybe she caught him after I said goodbye to her."

"Well, seeing Ichigo in a pretty kimono would definitely make him so flustered that he would lock himself away to recover," Yoruichi said, chuckling.

Yoruichi stood up.

"I'll drag the answers out of Kisuke," she said. "Sui-Feng, you're in charge until I get back."

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi," Sui-Feng said, bowing her head.

Hiyori followed the purple haired captain to the doors of the squad 2 barracks.

"So, you and Ichigo have kimonos for the festival?" Yoruichi asked, smirking at Hiyori.

"Ichigo's relatives forced me into one," Hiyori grumbled.

"Are you going to wear it to the festival?"

Hiyori scowled and looked away, blushing slightly.

"Yes," she mumbled.

"Aww, Ichigo made you promise, didn't she?" Yoruichi teased.

"Shut up, more like she blackmailed me," Hiyori growled. "Let's just get Urahara out of his office before he kills himself."

Yoruichi laughed but remained quiet as they walked to squad 12. They went inside.

"Captain Shihoin!" a squad member exclaimed.

Yoruichi looked around, her golden eyes locking onto the office. She walked over.

"Kisuke? You alive in there?" she called.

There was no answer.

"I'm coming in!" Yoruichi called.

Yoruichi then proceeded to smash the door down with a powerful kick. She walked in. Hiyori and the other squad members, and surprisingly Kurotsuchi, peeked in into the office. It was dark, only lit by computer screens. There was a yelp of surprise before Yoruichi came back into view, dragging Kisuke behind her.

"You idiot! I knew you were sulking," Yoruichi exclaimed.

Yoruichi released Kisuke and faced him, crossing her arms.

"You were sulking?" Hiyori asked.

Kisuke sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. His hair was messy and his clothes were ruffled. There were dark circles under his eyes.

"Sorry if I made you guys worry," he said.

"All this time, and you were just sulking?!" Hiyori yelled.

Kisuke winced slightly. Yoruichi sighed.

"Kisuke, you're going to get nowhere just sitting in the darkness of your office. You need confront this head-on," she said.

"You wasted a week on sulking? About what?" Kurotsuchi spoke up.

"That's none of your business, Kurotsuchi!" Hiyori snapped. "Oi, you idiot! Fix whatever you have to fix and get back to your old self! I don't want to have another replacement captain after three years!"

"She's right, Kisuke. You can't continue like this forever," Yoruichi said. "Do something about it soon or I'll do it for you."

"Yoruichi!" Kisuke whined.

"I'm not joking, Kisuke," Yoruichi said, remaining firm. "You can do this; have faith in yourself."

Hiyori huffed in amusement.


Ichigo sighed. She rested her zanpakuto on her shoulder as she gazed down at the unconscious tenth seat. She hadn't even broken a sweat.

"You'd expect seated officers of squad 11 to be stronger," she muttered.

Ichigo turned away. Ikkaku and Yumichika were watching her as witnesses since Kenpachi and Yachiru were on another Hollow hunt.

"Good job, Ichigo," Ikkaku said, smirking. "Wanna have another duel soon?"

"Sure, but not right now," Ichigo said.

"Well, you jumped six seats," Yumichika said. "You're climbing the ranks quickly. You'll probably be captain soon."

Ichigo snorted.

"There are no captain vacancies, Yumichika," she said. "And besides, think about the paperwork you have to do as captain."

"She's got a point there, Yumichika," Ikkaku muttered.

Ichigo flicked her sword and sheathed it. Zangetsu had been very quiet recently, probably satiated from all the duels and blood spill.

"I'm going," she said.

"Going where?" Yumichika asked.

"Squad 10," Ichigo said. "I need to talk to the goat face about something. See you guys later."

Ichigo flash stepped out of the barracks and soon, she was in front of squad 10. She knocked on the door. A few seconds later, the doors opened. Ichigo mentally raised an eyebrow; that was faster than usual.

"May I help you?" the soul reaper asked.

"I am Ichigo Shiba of squad 11. I wish to speak to Captain Shiba," Ichigo said.

She was let in and guided to the captain's office. There was yelling inside. Ichigo blinked before opening the door. Rangiku and a small white haired kid were yelling at each other. Isshin was face down at his desk, probably crying from the mountain of paperwork that covered the surface of his desk. Ichigo sweat dropped.

"Um...I can come back another time," she said.

Isshin perked up at her voice. Rangiku and the white haired kid paused in their argument to look at her. Isshin leapt into the air, grinning goofily.

"Ichigo! My precious daughter!" he exclaimed happily.

Ichigo step sided Isshin and he crashed into the wall.

"Ow..." Isshin groaned.

Rangiku bounded over, smiling widely.

"Ichigo! What brings you over here?" she exclaimed. "Oh! By the way, this is Toshiro Hitsugaya, third seat of squad 10."

"Nice to meet you," Toshiro said.

"Likewise," Ichigo said, nodding in acknowledgement. "I apologize for you having to deal with my father and Lieutenant Matsumoto."

"You are related to Captain Shiba?" Toshiro asked.

"Yes, I'm his adopted daughter, Ichigo Shiba," Ichigo replied.

Isshin stood up, rubbing his sore nose.

"So why are you here, Ichigo?" he asked. "Is it your squad? Are they mistreating you?!"

"Nothing like that; you can cool the overprotectiveness," Ichigo said. "In fact, I just got promoted."

"Nice," Rangiku said. "You were sixteenth seat before. What are you now?"

"Tenth seat," Ichigo said.

"You jumped six seats? Impressive," Rangiku said. "Although squad 11 is known for having very skilled fighters, I've seen you fight, Ichigo. You should be in the single numbers by now."

"I'm making my way up slowly," Ichigo said.

Rangiku snorted.

"Surely you didn't come all the way to tell us that," Isshin said. "I've known you since you were a child, Ichigo. I can tell something is on your mind."

Ichigo hesitated. Rangiku rested a hand on Toshiro's shoulder, understanding the situation.

"We'll leave you two to talk in private," Rangiku said. "Come on, Toshiro."

The two left. The door closed. Isshin led Ichigo to the couch.

"All right, what's going on?" he asked.

"Isshin...how can you tell when you're...in love?"

Isshin blinked in surprise before laughing. Ichigo scowled and punched him in the head. Isshin winced and rubbed the bump growing on his head.

"I'm being serious," Ichigo said.

Isshin sighed.

"Who's the lucky guy?" he asked.

Ichigo blushed slightly.

"I-I think you should answer my question first," she mumbled.

Isshin smirked and poked her red cheek.

"I've never seen you blush this much before, Ichigo," he teased. "This lucky guy melted your ice cold heart, eh?"

Ichigo glared at him and Isshin pulled back, hands up in surrender.

"All right, all right," he said, chuckling. "First of all, when you see this person, how do you feel around them? Does your heart start beating louder? Does it start racing? Does your face heat up? Can you feel a flutter in your stomach?"

"Maybe a little," Ichigo said. "I mean, I didn't realize it until Hiyori pointed it out."

"Ichigo, this person, do you believe they are a good person? That they would treat you the way you deserve?" Isshin asked.

Ichigo bit her lip thoughtfully before nodding.

"Yes, I believe he is a good man," she said. "Although, when I confronted him once, he got too flustered and flash stepped away."

Isshin chuckled.

"You can be pretty intimidating sometimes, Ichigo. Was it that one time you came back with the new kimono?" he asked.

"How do you know about that?" Ichigo narrowed her eyes at her father.

"Please; I'm the head of the Shiba clan. I get told everything that happens in the clan," Isshin said.

Ichigo sighed.

"Yeah, I was wearing the new kimono." she said. "It made him blush. He could barely speak too."

Ichigo smiling fondly as she remembered that day.

"You're thinking about him; I can tell. That's the first genuine smile I've seen from you in a long time," Isshin said, smiling as well. "If you love him, and he loves you back just as much, all you need to do is confess."

"Easier said than done," Ichigo said.

"Come on then, tell me who the lucky guy is," Isshin pressed. "I need to know who to threaten."

Ichigo rolled her eyes.

"It's Captain Urahara," she said.

Isshin blinked.

"Kisuke?" he clarified.

Ichigo nodded. Isshin hummed thoughtfully.

"That makes sense. We sometimes meet up on our way to captain meetings. He always takes the way past the squad 11 barracks," Isshin said.

He smirked.

"And now I know why," he said. "He is a good man, Ichigo. He's a little manipulative and cunning, but overall, he's a good man. And the rumors I've been hearing about him locking himself in his office because he was too flustered for an entire week is probably due to seeing you in your new kimono."

"He locked himself in his office for a week because he was so flustered?" Ichigo deadpanned.

Ichigo snorted and shook her head fondly.

"That man...he can be so dumb sometimes," she muttered.

Isshin rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Whatever you decide, Ichigo, I will support you," he said.

Ichigo smiled at him gratefully.

"Thanks...goat face."

Isshin pouted.

"Would it kill you to call me 'dad' every once in a while?" he grumbled.

Ichigo chuckled as she stood up.

"See you later," she said over her shoulder.

She opened the door and Rangiku and Toshiro came tumbling in. Rangiku got to her feet, trying to look innocent. Toshiro growled from where he was on the floor, looking very disgruntled.

"Were you listening the entire time?!" Ichigo exclaimed.

"It was a very juicy conversation," Rangiku said.

Toshiro stood up and dusted his shikakusho off.

"I tried to get her to stop, but she crushed me against the door," he grumbled.

Rangiku leapt at Ichigo, who dodged her hug of death. Rangiku pouted before grinning.

"Ichigo's growing up! She has a crush and everything!" she exclaimed.

Rangiku suddenly lit up in excitement.

"You two should go to the festival together!" she exclaimed.

Ichigo looked thoughtful.

"That's actually not that bad of an idea," she said. "Thanks; I'll think about it, Lieutenant."

Rangiku waved her hand dismissively.

"Call me Rangiku, Ichigo. We're friends," she said.

Ichigo nodded.

"Rangiku then," she said.

Rangiku smiled and gave her a thumbs up.

"Go get your man," she said.

Ichigo rolled her eyes as she waved goodbye and then left the squad 10 barracks.