Chapter 9
"Is she okay?"
It's the tenth time Ichigo's asked as he paces nervously while his father checks over the girl. Each time his question has gone unanswered and when silence continues Ichigo groans and slumps against the wall in frustration.
He's worried about her.
Sure, The Soul Society had branded her the enemy but she hadn't done anything bad even while spending most of the previous day in Karakura. He also knows The Soul Society has the habit of branding someone an enemy simply for being different. Therefore, until proven otherwise, she's a friendly to Ichigo.
"It looks alright. She might suffer from a concussion, though. Really, son, I hope you don't usually brain the people you are told to keep a look out for," Isshin mutters as he steps away from the girl and pulls his gloves off. "Who is she?"
He knows all about the Death Gods and the three realms so Ichigo answers honestly. Content in the fact that he doesn't have to lie to his father. Unlike most everyone else.
"I don't know," Ichigo whispers while he let his eyes roam over the girls face. She looks…familiar as if he's seen her before or—if not her—then someone who looks a lot like her. "But I feel like I've met her before…"
"Well, she the one isn't she? The one that attack with Grimmjow," Isshin asks as he looks the girl over before turning to look at Ichigo. When he does, though, he doesn't miss the sullen look on the boy's face. He can't help pity the boy.
As a former Death God, he's been in his shoes before. He knows all about the tough decisions The Soul Society often forces you to make. He knows how conflicted a simple order can make you feel and it's what drives him to pat his son on his back as he leaves the room.
There's a reason he gave up his life as a Death God, after all.
"Orders are orders, son."
"I know," Ichigo whispers as he pulls out his Death God badge.
It's a clunky thing that helps him exit his mortal body so he can use his powers without damaging it. He twists and turns it in his hands as he struggles to come to a decision. Everything in him is screaming at him to keep the girl a secret. To wait until she's woken up to call the others so he can question her alone.
Nevertheless, he can't because he knows that if he waits too long it will be seen as treason.
Fucking Soul Society and their fucked up rules.
With a frustrated growl, he places the badge on the counter next to the sink and pulls out his phone even though everything in him is screaming not to. He all but glares at the badge as he dials Rukia's—the Death God that got him into all this 'Honorary Death God' mess to begin with—number.
"Ichigo?"
"I found the girl."
It's all he says before snapping the phone shut with maybe a little too much force. He's still too angry at her and every other Death God for branding Orihime a traitor to actually talk to her at the moment.
"Fuck," he mutters as he slumps into the nearest chair in defeat. The other are on their way now and there's no taking it back. The girl's fate now lies in the hands of the biggest bigots he's ever met. "I've just killed her."
It's sometime later that there's a knock on the door but he doesn't look up from where he's buried his head in his hands. He knows it's them just by the amount of Reiatsu seeping in through the doorway.
"She's…not what I expected," Rukia says as she enters the room. The others trail in behind her. They crowd around the still unconscious girl. Ichigo says nothing. He gets what she's saying. Without the mask covering her face it's obvious to all of them that she's nothing more than a child.
"Do you suppose she was left behind on purpose," Rangiku Matsumoto asks. She's a busty blonde with a fierce attitude that Ichigo has come to respect. Especially, since she's the Lieutenant of the Tenth Division of The Thirteen Division Imperial Guards.
"It would be possible," Yumichika Ayasegawa chirps as he measures the girl's Reiatsu. "She doesn't seem to hold that much power. Do you think we should wake her up?"
"Just leave her be," Ichigo snaps, rising from his seat to block Yumichika's view of the girl. It annoys him that they're already sizing her up to take her down when she hasn't so much as twitched. "She isn't dangerous."
"She's the enemy, Ichigo," Toshiro Hitsugaya reminds him as he steps in between Ichigo and the lowly fifth seat of the Eleventh Division. Not that Yumichika can't hold his own. However, Ichigo's managed to take down his fair share of Captains and Lieutenants single handedly.
Ichigo backs down as soon as Hitsugaya steps into his space. He goes back to his seat as he should because Hitsugaya isn't just a random Death God. He's the Captain of the Tenth Division and he won't stand for insubordination.
Especially from a rank-less nobody.
Once he sure Ichigo won't cause any more problems he turn back to the girl. He's the highest-ranking officer in the room so he takes it upon himself to make sure the girl isn't a threat. He trusts Yumichika and all but the fifth seat doesn't hold the Reiryoku and skill necessary to actually check the depth of someone's Reiryoku.
"She's got a seal."
He finds it instantly.
The second his Reiryoku sweeps into her. He comes upon the block and he's trained enough to see it for what it is. He reaches out towards the girl instantly. Curious to see just why someone would place a seal on her but he's stop by a hand on his shoulder.
"Wouldn't it be best to leave it until we can get her to a better location?" Rangiku asks as she looks around Isshin's quaint little clinic. "Someplace where restraining her—if need be—would be easier."
"You're right," Hitsugaya agrees as he pulls back and looks at the Death Gods surrounding him. He's all business now as he speaks, "Take her to Urahara's store. We'll release the seal there."
~o0o~
"Where are they?" Daisy asks no one in particular as she paces around the game room. The consent clicking of her heels all but drives Ariel up the wall as she watches her pace from where she's sprawled on a couch.
Duncan, for his part, ignores them both as he fiddles with the video game console hooked up to one of the room's many televisions. For being dead people, he must say that they really value their entertainment. They have some of the latest consoles and games.
"Daisy," Ariel growls, tail twitching in annoyance but the redhead either doesn't hear her or ignores her completely. She jumps from the couch then, shifting skins. "If you don't stop moving and sit down, I'll have no choice but to force you."
"About time you shifted," Duncan drawls as he finally gets the console working. As he makes his way to the couch, he can't resist as his eyes roam over her from head to toe. He takes in all that exposed skin with a smirk. "I was beginning to think you were stuck like that and I'd have to kiss you to get you to change back."
"You'd like that wouldn't you, pervert," Ariel snaps at him without even turning his way. She can feel his eyes on her and it makes her skin crawl. Not that his attention is exactly unwelcomed per say but because she's uncomfortable in this skin as it is. It's her weakest state, after all.
It's why she avoids using it as much as she can.
"Not sure," he drawls as he pulls his helmet off and tosses it on the previously occupied couch. His gloves follow not too long after so he can game with ease. "Kissing a lion isn't exactly on my list. You as a human on the other hand, I wouldn't exactly mind."
Ariel hisses at him in annoyance at that and Duncan sends her wink.
"Keep dreaming," she snarls before turning her full attention back to Daisy. "Now, you fess up," she growls as she grabs the woman by both arms. She tosses her with a little more force than necessary onto the nearest recliner.
It hints as to how lost in thoughts Daisy is that she lets it happen. That she doesn't stop it tells she's not paying attention because Daisy is well versed in all types of martial arts. She's not just their main Physician. She's also their best trainer. She's trained almost all the Senior Agents at some point.
"What?" the woman gasps out as she crashes on to the recliner.
"How do you know the King?" Ariel questions as she circles her, slitted eyes locked on the woman.
Duncan pauses his game at that. He's also interested to find out the answer to the question. Hell, the whole group is but Daisy can be incredibly tight lipped when she wants to be and no one's been able to get the woman to talk. Though Leah had made it cleared that they had discussed it privately and it was taken care of.
"It's…it's none of your business!" Daisy yells, rising to her feet and meets Ariel glare for glare as the woman blocks her escape. "It's something private, that happened long before I joined and therefore is not your business or Duncan's or anyone else's."
Ariel rears back at the yell with a hiss. She's never seen Daisy yell out of battle. That woman's the most level headed out of all of them. It surprises her so much she doesn't stop Daisy as she storms out of the room.
"Woah, she's pissed," Duncan mumbles while Ariel stares after Daisy with wide eyes.
"It must be a really touchy subject then," Ariel mumbles dumbly.
"What do you think it could be?" Duncan asks but Ariel doesn't answer. She just continues to stand there. Staring after Daisy with a thoughtful look.
She's worried.
Duncan can tell that she is. Hell, they all are, but most of them are so worried over Matilda that they haven't noticed Daisy isn't acting like herself. She's being quiet, distant, and only observant little Ariel has seen it so now she's worrying herself sick.
He stands from the couch with a tired sigh and walks up to Ariel. He pulls her into his arms gently.
"Come on now. She'll be fine."
"What if he hurt her before?" Ariel mumbles into his chest as she curls into him now that no one's watching. With no one about to catch them in the act, she allows herself to relax into him as he brings his cloak around them and covers her naked form.
"Well, he won't be able to hurt her now," he reassures the shifter in his arms as he holds her close. "He wouldn't dare to lay a finger on her."
"Because you'll protect her?"
"No," he says with a shake of his head and smirk when Ariel shoots him a shocked looked. "Because she'll kick his ass in a thousand different ways. Daisy can hold her own, you know that."
