Jushiro rested a reassuring hand on Shunsui's shoulder as they calmly walked out of the chambers of central 46. The guards on either side of the halls remained indifferent to them, staring straight ahead.
"Just a bit more," his voice was quiet as he murmured in Shunsui's ear, his orbs glancing around at the eyes he knew were following them from the shadows. They were both itching to go see Ichigo again, their minds having conjured up all sorts of scenarios that involved the SWA in spades. They would be lucky to pry Ichigo out of their hands at this point.
Shunsui sighed, picking up his pace but making sure it still held a forced casualness he didn't feel. They couldn't just shunpo out of the chambers, it would have been a sign of disrespect, an indication that they were eager to leave the elders behind. Of course they were, but they couldn't actually show it. As soon as they passed the threshold of the door both he and Jushiro disappeared in a burst of shunpo, their afterimages trailing behind them.
Shunsui gripped the brim of his hat as he raced through the air, his pace quickening further when he noticed Nanao flare her spiritual energy slightly and come towards him.
"Taichou!" The woman appeared before them, her eyes wide. She was followed by Rangiku and surprisingly enough, a squirming Momo. Jushiro raised his brows at them before glancing down. Their arms were painfully empty. Jushiro felt his throat tighten, and before he could say anything Shunsui's voice cut though, uncharacteristically sharp.
"Where's Ichigo?" Nanao's mouth was set into a firm line and Momo stilled, her eyes shifting from him to Shunsui. Rangiku looked hesitant for a moment, glancing at Nanao for moral support before speaking.
"Taichou, I apologize. But he is with his grandfather. I know you entrusted him to us instead of your family, but I couln't-"
"Who?" Shunsui was staring at her, just as baffled as Jushiro felt. Grandfather?
Rangiku blinked, "the soutaichou of course."
The air left his lungs in a woosh and Jushiro almost became lightheaded. He glanced over at Shunsui who had gone pale, his brown eyes zeroing in on the first division.
"Shit."
TWC
Kukaku leaned back against the wall, shifting on her cushion until she was comfortable. Hey blue eyes followed a pacing Yoruichi, noting how her tail was low and flicking from side to side. Her friend had burst into her house moments ago, a worried twist to her reiatsu. Yoruichi had leveled golden eyes on her, opened her mouth then closed it and began to pace. Now she was still waiting, occasionally meeting the yellow orbs but not pushing for her to speak. If anyone was in immediate danger, Yoruichi wouldn't have spared her feelings, so she could wait a little bit while her friend gathered her composure.
She took a drag from her pipe, letting her head fall back against the wall as she let the smoke out of her mouth in puffs. The single lantern that illuminated the room cast it in an orange hue, elongating the shadows and setting their features in sharp angles. Finally, Yoruichi paused, yellow eyes blazing under the light. She sat with her tail wrapped around her paws across the table and spoke low, her deep voice a quiet murmur.
"You remember, what happened to Kisuke and I? How the Visored came to be?"
Kukaku narrowed her eyes, lowering her pipe from her mouth and nodded. She was surprised when Yoruichi broke their gaze first and she felt the stirrings of true worry grip at her.
"He knows what Ichigo is. Who he is."
Her eyes widened. Yoruichi didn't have to say his name, she knew who she was talking about. She clenched her jaw, her pipe snapping in her grip and sending red ash into the air. Neither of them moved. That was something she had been worried about. No one else suspected Aizen of anything, he was the model Shinigami after all. She couldn't just demand that Kyoraku not let Ichigo near Aizen, it would tip him off and put a target on their backs. She let out a hiss when she finally noticed the glowing embers on her flesh and wiped them away. The ash smudged against her thigh, but she ignored it now that it wasn't branding her. Kukaku looked back up and pursed her lips, "what can we do?"
Yoruichi's tail flicked and she padded around the table to sit next to her, resting her tiny face on her leg and tucking her paws under her.
"Kisuke has a theory, but its just that."
Kukaku heard the underlying message. Don't get your hopes up.
"Ichigo… his reiatsu is high for a baby. When we went to the visored, Kisuke noticed. He thinks Ichigo somehow protected himself. His spiritual body anyways."
Kukaku swallowed, not wanting the reminder that her beloved nephew had almost died. She didn't speak, waiting for Yoruichi to continue.
"It's possible that his spirits stirred to help him, being as unique as he is. We aren't sure. And even then, we don't know which part of him protected him." Yoruichi let out a sigh, going limp across her lap before rolling onto her back, letting Kukaku place a gentle hand on her belly. It was a privilege that only she had with the feline.
"How can that help us with…him." She didn't even want to say his name. It made her blood boil thinking about it because it always brought back memories of Kaien.
"Kisuke thinks we can talk to Ichigo. Warn him. If his spirits are awake, then they can hear everything he can. The hope is that his zanpakuto will be aware of our words and guide Ichigo with his instincts." Yoruichi stretched out further, her front paws up and by her head to expose more of her belly to the former noble.
Kukaku ran her hand along Yoruichi's soft belly, gentle not to snag any fur and narrowed her eyes in thought. She could follow the logic, but it was a very very long shot. "No harm in trying I suppose." She paused, catching something she had missed before.
"Wait, spirits?" She emphasized the word, her brows raising. According to her late brother, Shinigami only had one. Yoruichi shifted and she narrowed her eyes, watching as the black cat flopped back around and hid her belly from view once more.
"Yeah, Kisuke thinks Ichigo might have more than one. The visored had hollows shoved into them and take over, their reiatsu is more… push and pull. Ichigo, he's in harmony." Yoruichi tilted her head, her ears flicking. "He thinks it might get getting along with his zanpakuto instead of taking over." A heavy sigh escaped her. "It's a speculation, and Kisuke isn't quite positive that's what it is. So take it with a grain of salt."
Kukaku nodded and leaned back, not realizing she had tensed. She glanced down morosely at her broken pipe and chucked the pieces across the room. The lantern flickered and the room dimmed slightly, but both were content to enjoy their contemplative silence.
TWC
Yamamoto let out a low chuckle as he teased the baby in his arms with little nips at his tiny face. There was a determined set to Ichigo's brow and small hands swatted at him, his eyes focused each time he brought his hand in to tickle his nose or pinch his cheek. A squeal of delight left pink lips and Ichigo happily gnawed on his finger, content in his catch.
The embers of Yamamoto's soul lightened, and he felt Ryujin Jakka stir awake, contemplating the baby in his arms. Yamamoto knew his grandson was no ordinary child, the darkness in his reiatsu couldn't be hidden, nor the more surprising quincy aspect. He wondered how the child had come to be, and how Shunsui had come to have him in his possession. He moved his hand away from the babe's mouth and laid it on his tiny chest, letting his reiatsu cover his hand in a soothing warmth. A spark of something rose to meet his power and he felt his brows raise. Yamamoto carefully undid Ichigo's top and opened his eyes fully, staring at the black tattoo of the Shiba house. Sasakibe, who had been standing behind him, gasped in surprise.
"Taichou, is that-?" his fukutaichou cut himself off. They were both well aware of what the mark of the Shiba main branch mark looked like. A flare of spiritual pressure brought his gaze towards the door and he closed Ichigo's shirt, leaning back and letting the child rest against his chest. Honey brown eyes were drooping adorably and he clutched to Yamamoto's white haori in a death grip. Ryujin Jakka purred, content at the little life that clung to them.
A knock at his door alerted him to his pupils arrival and he straightened, looking every bit the disgruntled father he felt.
"Enter." The door slid open and he held his stern mask as he met Shunsui's and Jushiro's worried gaze. Their eyes met his briefly before looking down at what he was holding. As one, their eyes widened, and a grim determination shadowed their features. Yamamoto paused, that was not what he had been expecting. He gestured for them to sit and they strode in quickly, their eyes never leaving the now sleeping Ichigo.
Yamamoto kept his voice low, unwilling to waken the child. "I believe you two have some explaining to do."
A wince crossed Shunsui's face and he nodded, pausing briefly. He flicked his eyes back up to meet his and Yamamoto watched as indecision played across his face.
"Before I start, now that you're holding him…" Shunsui trailed off, a frown digging deeper into his face. "I want him safe. No matter what. I don't care what he is."
Yamamoto's eyebrows rose into his hairline, opening his eyes in a flash of anger. Shunsui stood abruptly, his chair skidding back and tipping over. Jushiro was wide eyed, watching the two of them while gripping the edge of his seat with white knuckles.
"My grandson, did not willingly acquire any of his powers. Impossible for a baby to do such a thing." Yamamoto's voice came out in an angry hiss, his reiatsu swelling behind tightly contained bonds. There was silence in the room for a moment before Shunsui's shoulders slumped in relief, receiving the message. Jushiro wore a tight smile, his hand reaching out to Shunsui and urging him to take his seat again.
The white-haired captain looked between them, his eyes resting on Ichigo briefly before leaning back heavily in his chair, pulling Shunsui by his pink haori even more when the captain of the eighth was too slow to sit down. "Ah, let's settle down then. I'm sure you have many questions."
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And thus the conclusion of the baby Ichi arc ends! Now for the more... adventurous years! I will miss imagining a baby Ichi tho!
Next chapters will contain time skips, and I may or may not settle on an age for a few chapters but I'm unsure about that yet.
Thank you for all your lovely reviews and favs/follows!
Suggestions are welcomed :D