Bleach (c) Tite Kubo
Naptime
Kukaku Shiba is on the hunt. Her face pinched and brow twitching.
Honestly.
Uncle Isshin asked her to do one job while he and his wife were on a day trip. Just one. But said 'job' was proving extraordinarily difficult. Especially when that 'job' in question is the slipperiest little devil this side of the Seireitei. Put the kiddo down for two seconds and he scrapers.
In other words, a fairly classic Shiba child. You'd think it'd be easier to keep track of the little squirt, especially when he sticks out like an orange-haired thumb among their darker colours, but no.
Little Ichigo was an energetic curious creature, but Kukaku knows he'd never venture outside the Shiba grounds without either of his parents. Problem is, that still leaves the entire compound and the estate ground beyond for the waist-high rascal to hide.
There's all the obvious spots, like his room, a little treehouse the other clan kids play in and around, the kitchens and the library.
Of course, little Ichigo's usual hangouts aren't limited to places. They include people. And there's the usual suspects he clings to, like his parents, Ganju and herself (when Kukaku's not trying to get him to hold still for five seconds), but there's one more who only came home in the last hour or so. The last one is -
"Kaien." Turning a corner, Kukaku practically runs into her elder brother.
"Hey sis. You okay?" Kaien ventures.
"No I'm not. Where's Ichigo? Have you seen him?" Kukaku asks.
"Not recently. Why? Is there something wrong?"
Kukaku huffs. "Yes, there's something wrong. I was tryin' to put the kid down for a sleep but the second I turned my back, he slipped through my fingers. Little punk runs like the wind."
Kaien shrugs, "He's a Shiba. That's kind of what we do."
Kukaku gives him a half-hearted glare. "You haven't seen him. And you don't have any idea where he is right now?"
"Not a clue. Sorry sis." Kaien offers with a shrug but the conspicuous giggling gives away the game.
Kukaku eyes him and Kaien smiles in return, like he hadn't just told a boldfaced lie or heard that mischievous little brat at all.
Kukaku relents, before turning on her heel and stalking away. "His naptime, Kaien."
When Kukaku turns the corner, Kaien's lips pull into a smirk.
"Upsetting big sis Kukaku. You're playing a very dangerous game, little man." Kaien says over his shoulder to the cheery limpet clinging to the back of his shihakushou for dear life. Kaien folds his hands behind him, hiking his baby cousin further up.
For his part, Ichigo is all giggles and grins clinging to Kaien's collar.
Kaien still smiles sympathetically, but he has to play the bad guy here. His baby cousin is barely a child, he's well past his naptime and no one in their right mind wants to deal with a grumpy kiddo. "You know you need your naptime, Ichi."
"Don't wanna." Ichigo's sunny grin is gone, replaced with an angry (absolutely adorable) pout.
"Ichigo." Kaien admonishes him lightly.
"Wanna play." Ichigo protests. "'Kaku won' let me."
Yeah, she wouldn't. Fortunately, Kaien's a little more lenient than his sister and more willing to barter with this more-or-less five year old. "What if we read a story together; one of the ones your dad brought back from the World of the Living?"
Ichigo's little face lights up, and his grin shines like the sun. "Really?"
"Only one story. I'll let you choose which one, but you have to promise me you'll have your nap after, alright?" Kaien tells him with a crooked smile.
Ichigo gives a big nod. "Okay!"
"Good boy."
END.