2 and a half years later….
Jushiro wasn't one to hold grudges. Didn't feel the need to especially when it was easier to forgive and forget. In most cases. But for right now, all he could think of was that he was going to kill Yoruichi-Shihoin because no one else would have dared to teach Ichigo such a thing at such a young age. He came to a stop, panting and out of breath as he braced his weight on his knees. His white hair was plastered to his forehead and the sun was beating down on him harshly. He took in another gulp of air, hearing the giggling laughter of his son. He stood, squinting past the blinding light and spotted a small figure in a dark blue kimono smiling at him.
"Heeuh Ju otou-san!" Ichigo's high voice rang out, his mouth not quite capable of forming words properly yet. Which brought Jushiro's thoughts back to murdering Yoruichi. Ichigo waved at him and Jushiro approached cautiously, hands high and voice stern.
"Ichigo! You need to stop, we have to go visit Retsu-san!" It had been a task and a half getting the orange haired toddler to stay still for the healer, but she never seemed to mind. Always watching Ichigo with an air of amusement and a fierce protectiveness that had surprised him the first time he saw it.
"Otay! Race yuh der!"
Before Jushiro could protest, Ichigo left in a sloppy shunpo, his giggles falling away in the breeze.
Forget what he said. Jushiro was going to torture Yoruichi, then kill her.
Unohana calmly turned towards the person who dared slam her door open and raised her eyebrows in surprise when she was attacked by an overly excited toddler, one that just came out of a shunpo. She blinked, looking down at the babbling Ichigo with wide eyes, not able to hear what he said because a moment later, a sweating Jushiro charged in, distress in his eyes. Unohana looked between the two of them and couldn't hold back the chuckle at the scene.
Her lieutenant gaped at Ichigo, her mouth opening and closing as she limply pointed at the child. "Did he just…?" The question sounded absurd out loud and Unohana could not fault Isane for her surprise. After all, many Shinigami didn't learn to shunpo until the academy. Even the nobles waited until their children resembled the age of ten. All of them besides the Shihoin clan anyways. Unohana narrowed her eyes, shifting Ichigo so he was resting against her hip, his babbling never stopping.
"Ichigo," she cut him off and looked at him with her calmest smile, letting him feel her disapproval. "Did Yoruichi teach you how to shunpo?"
Ichigo wilted in her arms, face falling and eyes downcast as he nodded timidly. Unohana glanced back at Jushiro who was leaning against the wall now, his breaths more even as he threw her an exasperated look.
"It's fine Ichigo, but you need to promise not to run from your otousan, he cares about you very much." Unohana lifted Ichigo's chin as she spoke and saw his eyes glisten. He nodded again, a pout on his lips.
"Sowy" Ichigo's quiet voice was directed to his father and Jushiro sighed, moving away from the wall and laying a gentle hand on Ichigo's head.
"It's okay Ichigo. You know Shun and I just want the best for you, but we can't do that if you run away like that. Now we made Retsu-san late for her other appointments."
It wasn't true, but Unohana didn't mention it, knowing Jushiro was trying to implement a lesson. Tears fell from Ichigo's eyes and he buried his head into her shoulder, clutching at her haori and speaking through sniffles.
"Sowy Oba-chan"
Unohana blinked and looked at Jushiro who seemed just as surprised as her. The moment was quick and she smiled, kissing the top of Ichigo's head gently. "Of course, Ichigo. Come now, let's do your monthly check up. You're growing so fast, you must be quite strong."
Ichigo perked up immediately at the praise, rubbing at his eyes and sending her a blinding smile. She put him down and motioned for him to go. "You know where to head to Ichigo, we will be right behind you."
He nodded excitedly and ran off, a skip in his step as several members of the fourth patted his head or cooed at him while he walked down the hall.
Jushiro turned to her, his brown eyes concerned. "Any new ideas?"
Unohana hummed, placing her hands in her sleeves as she watched Ichigo go. "I had a theory I was following up on, and if it's what I think it is, he should be fine." She turned her gaze on him when Ichigo was no longer visible and warmed her eyes, knowing he was concerned.
"Hitsugaya-taichou has a similar situation with his bankai. When his power is under that strain too long, it forces his body to rapidly age to accommodate his reiatsu. I believe the same thing is happening to Ichigo." She paused, acknowledging Jushiro's incredulous look before continuing. "I'm unsure when he will stop aging, but as of right now, he is following the trend for a normal human child. He simply has too much reiatsu, even in a passive state. But I don't believe his life will be extinguished quickly." It was a concern they all had when they noticed how fast Ichigo aged. Would he stop or simply grow into an old man before the century was up?
"He's been here for about two and a half years, but I'd argue he looks to be three. I know it's not much, but it provides validity to my theory of his aging being reiatsu related." She could see the wheels turning in Jushiro's head as she spoke, and he slowly nodded along.
The captain of the 13th brought a hand up to his chin, his warm, brown eyes unfocused. "Yeah… that makes sense."
Unohana smiled and motioned for him to follow her. Ichigo was always so impatient.
TWC
Another two years (Ichi now looks about the age of 5)
Ichigo grinned as he peeked behind a corner, watching as Momo and Nanao split up to search for him. He straightened, leaning back against the wall and giggled with delight.
"Ichigo"
Ichigo frowned at the voice in his head, knowing it would scold him for hiding away.
"You shouldn't hide, Ichigo."
He had taken a liking to calling that voice Ojisan because he sounded like an older man and reminded him of his fathers. Ichigo tilted his head, distracted as he listened.
"Go back"
Ichigo huffed and ignored him.
"Don't listen to him little kingy, go have fun!"
Ever since he started hearing them, Ichigo knew that his anisan was the more fun of the two. He figured it should be that way, older brothers were always supposed to be more fun than an uncle. Ichigo turned from the direction the two lieutenants took off in and shunpoed away, a smile blazing across his face at the feeling of freedom under his feet.
Ichigo briefly looked over his shoulder, watching for his pursuers before he slammed into something hard.
The wind was knocked out of him and the voices in his head grew in volume, each calling to him in worry.
"Ow" Ichigo rubbed the back of his head as he leaned up from the white floor, his eyes squinting open. The sun was blocked by a shadow, and he tried to peer up through the haze of pain. He winced and a gentle hand landed on his head, sweeping his hair out of his face.
"Are you ok?"
After a moment, Ichigo blinked away the spots and his vision focused, landing on shaggy brown hair and equally brown eyes. The white haori he wore reflected the rays of the sun in a blinding way and he narrowed his eyes against the glare. The man hummed and picked him up from under his arms when he didn't respond.
Ichigo squirmed, used to being picked up but not usually by strangers. The man was a captain though, so it should have been okay. He was forced to hold onto the tall man around his neck, wrapping his legs around as far as they could go. Now that he was being carried, he realized how tired he was and that the fall had hurt more than he initially thought. He leaned back, feeling the man adjust his grip so he could do so, and looked at the man's face. Large glasses cast a glare over his eyes and there was a gentle smile on his lips.
"I don't like him." His anisan spoke up in his mind, making his disapproval known. Ichigo tilted his head, staring at the man with furrowed brows. Something in him was telling him to get away.
"Listen to yer instincts, king."
Ichigo blinked and the man in front of him raised a brow. He flushed, realizing that he had missed the question. "What?"
The man let out a small laugh and it sent shivers down his spine. "My, aren't you a cute one?"
The blush on Ichigo's face burned more and he scowled, giving the man his best glare.
"I'm not!"
"No, of course not." The man chuckled and Ichigo pouted, forgetting about the uneasy feeling that had filled his belly a moment before.
The man began walking and Ichigo glanced around, letting his eyes trail over the maze that made up the Seireitei. He thought he was lost before, but now it was a certainty.
"My name is Aizen taichou, I believe you are Kyoraku taichou and Ukitake taichou's son?" Ichigo nodded absently, fighting his drooping eyelids. He sighed and leaned forward again, no longer interested in his surroundings as he burrowed his head into the crook of the man's neck. Brown hair tickled his nose and Ichigo relaxed, but still stubbornly tried to stay awake. Maybe Shu otousan had been right about the importance of afternoon naps, his father always had to bribe Ichigo into settling down. But if he was being honest, he loved being tucked under his father's pink kimono as they slept.
After a moment of silence and realizing he was being rude, he spoke, "I'm Ichigo." He felt the man nod, brown hair brushing against his cheek.
"IIIIccchiiiiii-cchhhhaaannnn!"
Ichigo jolted, the sleep induced haze vanishing as he heard that sing song voice. His heart picked up and he squirmed in Aizen's grip. The man didn't let him go, simply tightening his hold and Ichigo pleaded. "No! Don't let him find me!"
He kicked his legs out to find purchase on something that wasn't air, but it was too late.
"Ichigo!"
He turned, watching with wide eyes as Gin skipped towards him, a very angry Rangiku in tow. It wasn't Gin that Ichigo feared, the man was only annoying but willing to play with him. No, Rangiku was much worse, and wherever Gin was, she was sure to follow.
Ichigo squirmed harder, catching Aizen on the side by accident and wincing as the man huffed and grabbed him by the chin, making him look at the captain.
"Ichigo stop. I am returning you to your fathers."
He had figured that much. The taichou was sure to know where to go, but that didn't mean it would save him from the blonde woman's yelling.
"Do you know how worried we were about you!?" Rangiku was in front of them now, her eyes blazing. Ichigo frowned and stubbornly looked away, turning back around to rest his chin on Aizen's shoulder. The man wasn't letting him go, so he may as well use him as a shield.
"Worry not Matsumoto fukutaichou, I am on my way to return him as we speak. He seemed quite tired after crashing into me." Ichigo buried his face further into the white haori, ignoring Gin's cackling and Rangiku's angry huff.
Ichigo blinked and silver flooded his vision. Gin was walking behind Aizen and was staring right at him with that creepy smile. He furrowed his tiny brows, eyeing the captain. His smile was stretched wider than usual, and a pale blue eye was briefly visible as he opened it to stare back.
He looked away, uncomfortable, and flinched when he met Rangiku's angry frown.
Ichigo could only imagine the tongue lashing his fathers would give him. He groaned and dropped his head on the white clad shoulder, ignoring the amusement radiating off the man that carried him. He was going to be in so much trouble. Again.
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Thank you for your lovely reviews and follows/favs!
For this chapter, I'm terribly sorry for putting overprotective Ichii fans in this situation (not sorry at all). :D