Disclaimed: This is obviously not Bleach no matter how we look at it. This is a fanfiction, which I guess I kinda own (?) but the manga is not my property.
Enjoy.
#17#
Sometimes Ichigo found it peaceful working at the 10th division office instead of the Shiba compound, because here at least the Shinigami would think twice then barge into his office unannounced.
It wasn't as if the retainers would do that, no it was the rest of the entire blasted clan. When Kukaku had told him that the Shiba Clan had been one of the biggest Clans before that incident where they had framed Kaien for some bullshit that was obviously Aizen's fault and pretty much eradicated the entire Clan she wasn't kidding. It didn't help that the branches just kept on extending since the Shiba Clan did not believe in frivolities like arranged marriages or two children per couple.
Maybe he should have thought twice about that.
And usually he didn't mind, they only came knocking on his door when it was a request. But because he tried to be kind and impartial to everyone regardless of how closely related they were, it seemed like it was an open invitation to chat or share tea with him while they shared their day's activities –they don't need to report their daily doings word by word, god damn it!
Sure, sometimes it was a nice change of pace, but the fact that he always tried to make time for the clan made their respect and awe almost increase ten-fold –why!? No matter how much he insisted, everyone made sure to address him as Ichigo-sama and regard him as some sort of untouchable figure head even though they found it easy to speak with him –contradicting signs, he knows.
But that wasn't the main issue here. While doing paperwork in the tenth was slightly less arduous, he always found himself eating his words when Shunsui would barge in, Jῡshirō not fair behind with an apologetic expression that Ichigo knew was all for show before taking over his couch.
Why did he have to be in the middle? The thirteenth division was to the left of the tenth and the eighth was to the right. Perfect meeting space, Shunsui calls it. Well Ichigo calls it paperwork hiding place for the two lieutenants.
Like now.
"If I had known that all this paperwork was involved with being a lieutenant, I never would have agreed to it!" Shunsui exclaims dramatically as he sprawls all over the double couch in a practiced manner. It pretty much was, every single day they would play the same tone.
Jῡshirō sighed –like always- from his position on the love seat as he put his cup of tea down on the table "Shu, if a third seat position generated paperwork, why would you think lieutenant would be any less?"
The brunet whined "I would think a lieutenant would get to pass on all those annoying papers onto the third seat and that was why we used to have so much to do."
Ichigo put his pen down as he mentally labeled the continuation of his paperwork as a lost cause "Jῡshirō and I would always do that paperwork. I don't see why you complain."
Shunsui straightened up to look at the orange head who was standing from his position behind the big mahogany desk with a startled look. "You're telling me you two actually did it out of your own free will."
"Yes." Twin replies graced his ears causing him to scrunch his nose up in disgust.
"Anyway," Jῡshirō interjected before Shunsui came up with some witty reply "We've been lieutenants for a good century now. You're not going to tell me your sudden passionate hate for paperwork just came out of nowhere, right?"
The brunet crossed his arms over his chest and looked to the side with a scowl. Jῡshirō merely narrowed his eyes menacingly since Ichigo was busy making tea for himself to do it instead.
"Your cheap scowl is not going to make me not pursue this Shu." The white haired lieutenant pointed out.
"Well I'll have you know," Shunsui grumbled "that I have high hopes."
Jῡshirō merely threw the other a glare as Ichigo sat down on his left sharing the smaller couch. It was a wise choice, from previous experience Shunsui could go from sitting, to sprawled out to downright lying from one second to another without conscious thought of who else was sharing the couch.
"What I want to know is who started the cheap scowl thing." Ichigo pointed out grimly.
"It doesn't matter." They both answered at the same time causing Ichigo to deflate instantly and grumble silently into his tea.
"Okay then." The orange head appeased "Back to topic Shu."
Jῡshirō brightened while Shunsui groaned. "Ichi, you have to tell me how you do it! Where do you dump all your paperwork? Do you burry it?"
"To easy to see when someone has dug a whole." Ichigo pointed out languidly for pure amusement purposes.
"Burn it with kido?" he question instead.
"Pretty sure the smell of burnt paper is a dead giveaway." Jῡshirō cut in cheerfully catching onto what Ichigo was plotting.
"Ugh, throw it in the river?"
"And risk people seeing the wet sheets going down stream?"
Shunsui looked ready to rip out his hair. "You've gots to tell me!"
Ichigo looked on in amusement as he stood up and opened the cupboard where all the tea sets should be. Jῡshirō's eyes widened comically while Shunsui brightened almost instantly.
"I picked up Chichiue's old habit. But I only stuff them in here so that the office isn't buried in paper. I do fill 'em out eventually." He pointed out as he rolled his eyes when the brunet deflated once again.
The white haired lieutenant quirked a smile in Ichigo's direction once the cupboard was closed again "You had me scared there for a second. It's in Shunsui's job description to avoid paperwork at all costs, not yours."
"It is!?"
"He meant it metaphorically." Ichigo quickly snapped back and had to contain himself to avoid laughing at the dumbstruck expression on the other's face. "Back on topic, again."
Shunsui groaned as he flopped onto the couch with all the grace of a cow on wheels. "My dad decided it was a great idea to make me the heir to the Kyoraku clan."
Ichigo and Jῡshirō shared a quick glance at that and found themselves mirroring each other's confused expression. This wasn't news to the two, but apparently the brunet still had had hope that one of his other siblings would succeed their father.
"It's usually the task of the first born Shu."
Shunsui looked almost comically panicked "I know, but I'm not leader material like Ichi or you. You two were practically groomed for the position!"
"And you weren't?" Ichigo questioned calmly in great contrast with the brunet.
"Kinda?"
Jushiro sighed "Not impressed Shunsui. I'm the only son of the family, and while I wasn't raised with heir in mind, I still received noble training. I think I should be the one panicking."
"The Ukitake main line died out in the Elder plague, yes?" Ichigo questioned the white-haired male.
He nodded "In the end there was no other option but to pass it onto the nearest blood relation, and that happened to be my Father's lineage. He was barely Head for two years before you got your own position."
They both turned to the brunet with a questioning glance before Ichigo spoke up "And you're panicking about this because there will be more paperwork?"
"Yes!" he answered instantly with an indigent expression that made Ichigo want to face palm. "I've seen how you drown in paperwork before! I am not resigning myself to that fate ever."
"The only reason why that happens is because Ichigo juggles his clan head duties, his lieutenant duties, and the non-existent captain duties." Jῡshirō pointed out with a wry twist of his mouth "Even though the tenth technically reports to the 1st division, Yamamoto-dono trusts Ichigo's judgment enough to pretty much run the entire division."
Shunsui groaned "I don't understand why you aren't captain yet, just swing into the 1st, bankai blazing and I bet you'll get appointed in a second."
Ichigo rolled his eyes as he threw his legs over the table and crossed one over the other in a way that seemed ordinarily graceful "Sure, let me just go and tell him how I've had bankai for better part of half a millennium, I bet he'll buy that."
"I thought we had agreed to calm down Shu." The white haired lieutenant placated "In the eyes of the senior captains, even a decade of training is nothing. Just because you have bankai doesn't make you captain quality."
"In the future that's all you pretty much needed to ascend, and the gotei 13 was a mere shadow of what it previously was. If I have any say in it, that won't be changing and we might have more competent shinigami in the future." Ichigo assured the other two, causing them to sigh in a way that was obvious they had already had this conversation before.
Shunsui sighed in a way that conceded defeat before sitting up again and throwing a leg onto the table as well. The reprimanding expression Jῡshirō gave them both only made him grin harder.
"However," the brunet began "I think you need to at least show you have discovered bankai so that in less than a century you could fill out the position."
Ichigo was about to retort when all of a sudden the door to the office slid open with such force it almost made him drop his tea in shock. As they simultaneously turned to look at the newcomer, Ichigo found himself raising an eyebrow at the out of breath Wataru grabbing the door frame for support.
"What blew up this time?" he found himself asking almost automatically after so many aforementioned situations.
The raven head took a lungful of air before straightening with an almost panicked expression "Nothing blew up. It's worse!" the shinigami waved his hands dramatically to showcase his point "The vain of all elder brothers. Boyfriends!"
Ichigo rose an eyebrow slowly as he gave Wataru an incredulous expression "You like guys? Why didn't you tell your big brother? I don't judge."
Wataru turned an impressive shade of red as he spluttered at the snickers Shunsui was not able to contain and the smile that was twitching on Jῡshirō's face.
"I'm serious!" he yelled out when even Ichigo started to laugh out loud "Haruka-ne has a boyfriend!"
The air in the office seemed to dim almost instantly and both lieutenants itched to run away as the full impact of Ichigo's murderous aura invaded the previously cheery atmosphere.
"Ho?" he rose an eyebrow almost too calmly "There's a brat out there that thinks he can date Haruka just like that?"
Wataru shook his head rapidly to showcase the denial as he mentally tried to stop the shaking of his bones. "I-I overheard them talking and he was telling her that he wanted to court her the r-right way and ask for your permission even though the Shiba Clan doesn't really force those kind of things."
Ichigo felt a smirk curling the edges of his mouth causing those in the room to look even more apprehensive. The expression was pure danger for those involved, and no one had the illusion that they would be left unscathed just because they were bystanders.
"Please tell me we won't have to help Ichi burry a body." Shunsui whined from his position on the couch where he was trying to appear smaller.
The widening of Ichigo's smile only made him whimper further as Jῡshirō grimaced and Wataru escaped the room running even though he was proficient enough in shunpo for a fifth seat.
"I promise to refrain from murder unless I am provoked." He assured them.
It most defiantly did not.
#17#
Two days after, while Ichigo was having morning tea with one of the new clan elders –Shiba Meishi- a hell butterfly entered through the half open shoji doors and fluttered precariously around his head until Ichigo lifted a finger and it landed calmly. The message that was shared was expected, but he still found himself smiling evilly at the prospect of future entertainment.
"In half an hour." He told the insect who quickly took off and went back to its owner.
As he turned back to look at his current companion, he saw her smiling warmly at him in a way that made him feel like a child even though he was well over four centuries old.
"Am I right to assume that Ichigo-sama has found something to entertain himself with this evening?" she questioned good naturedly which had him mirroring her smile soon after.
Ichigo really liked the new elders, and Shiba Meishi was honestly his favorite. She was his something times removed great grandmother from a branch of the first head's youngest daughter –that guy had had 14 sons and daughters! And while she was old, her attitude was still Shiba crazy and had a great sense of humor. She mostly always backed him up in Clan meetings, and when she didn't, her points were valid which always had him thinking of new alternatives that would always work better.
She also insisted on calling him Ichigo-sama –like all the blasted clan, ugh!- and also insisted he call her grandmother even though it was considered unsightly.
"I'll have you know that it's my job as an elder brother and clan head to make sure someone worthy courts my little sister." He told her seriously which would have had better impact if he weren't suppressing a smile.
"Of course." She agreed with him even though her expression stayed amused at the situation. "So who's the lucky boy?"
Ichigo hummed to himself as he tried to dig up all information he had on Haruka's intended. "Shiba Kazuki of one of the branch families. Son of Shiba Dochiro and Nana, though not blood related. He was adopted into the clan directly from the streets about a decade before the Elder Plague. I remember the hassle that Gen raised."
"Ah," she made a noise of understanding "If I remember correctly, Reiko-san was the one that convinced Gen to leave it be."
The orange head nodded, he had heard about it of course, but hadn't really gotten involved in the situation. Ryōtaro had taken care of everything afterwards so he only knew the basics, which pretty much the entire clan knew.
"It's amazing to see how much power Reiko-san had over her husband." He pointed out curiously "Was there a reason for that Mei-bachan?"
"The Kasumiōji Clan only agreed to the marriage because Gen was the little brother of the first head. If I understood correctly, they threatened to remove their alliance many times because of Gen's attitude so he always stepped back in line when Reiko cut in."
"Huh." He breathed out as he thought about it. Shiba Reiko had died a year before Ryōtaro of illness so it was easy to see why everything had turned so drastic. "Well, I'm off to meet Kazuki." He told her as he hoisted himself onto his feet and reached out an arm to help her stand as well. She took it with a grateful smile before standing strong on her own two feet. Like always she threw Ichigo a smug smile and he merely returned it as per routine.
As they both went their own separate ways Ichigo's smile turned vindictively sadistic.
He turned the corner into one of the out of the way hallways as a shortcut and pretty much crossed the entire compound in three minutes flat. He walked up to one of the main sitting rooms at the entrance of the building for formal requests and wasn't surprised to see a retainer kneeling on the floor waiting for his arrival to open the door. Ichigo gave a wry smile to the young male with pitch black hair cropped neatly and bright blue eyes.
"You were right behind me twenty seconds ago, Daisuke-kun." He admonished good naturedly.
The teen-looking raven head merely inclined his head in acknowledgment "It is my duty to attend to Ichigo-sama's needs after all." He agreed.
Ichigo sighed in resignation before giving the teen a casual wave which caused the boy to smile kindly and open the door for him. He had honestly tried everything; nothing worked with Kusakabe Daisuke, citing that he was born to serve the Shiba Clan. It .help that Daisuke meant Great help.
But as Ichigo entered the room calmly, he sat down on the cushion in front of the Shiba Clan symbol and supported himself with the arm rest left specifically at his left. The tray set at his right side and the pipe already lit made him give a warm smile at seeing how the retainers pretty much had his habits memorized.
He grabbed the elaborate looking pipe and grasped it expertly with his thumb and forefinger resting it comfily on his palm. About five minutes in, two minutes before the scheduled time, the door at the other side of the room –not the one he had come through- opened slowly to reveal Haruka looking slightly uncomfortable with a man trying to appear as strong as possible while still showing nerves. Behind them a couple entered the room before the door slid closed. Haruka went up to him and gave a nod in greeting as she took her seat on his left side a little way towards the back.
The family of three sat down on the designated cushions in front of Ichigo before bowing low as is accustomed.
Ichigo knows he makes an intimidating figure with his patterned gray Kimono showcasing mini fireworks at the hems in blues, yellows and greens. His red Haori is draped over his shoulders as, pooling around him like silk with the Shiba emblem proudly displayed on his back. His orange hair had also grown over the years, and about three years back he had decided to just let it grow and was now on its way to mid-back.
Even then he tried to give a reassuring smile which they crookedly returned in response. He turned slightly towards Haruka, and found his smile almost splitting his face when he found her twitching on her cushion.
"Nervous much, Haruka-chan?"
Said person blushed deep red and averted her eyes somewhere else. It was obvious she wanted to be anywhere except here at this current time, but was willing to go through her temporary torture.
"This is a bad idea." She muttered remorsefully in a way that hinted how much she had tried to persuade her intended to not do this. She took a deep breath and turned back to look Ichigo in the eye with a determined expression "Ni-sama, I would like to request the annulment of the marriage agreement between the two of us."
"WHAT?!" They all exclaimed in shock as they quickly turned to Haruka so fast they almost got a whiplash. Ichigo even heard a loud thud from one of the side doors that sounded suspiciously like his two best friend eavesdroppers.
"We haven't cancelled that?" he questioned instead to avoid the surprised expression the family of three were giving him.
The side door slid open and Ichigo easily spotted Shunsui and Jῡshirō trying to scramble away to remain unseen. Daisuke bowed low and gave a murmur of an excuse before supplying "I believe that register is in your office, Ichigo-sama. If I am correct, it has been cancelled since day two of your appointment."
Ichigo rubbed his chin thoughtfully before nodding in understanding "If you say so, it must be true. You pretty much fill in the role of my secretary most of the time, Daisuke-kun."
The person in question gave a smile one level bellow smug before bowing again "If that is what Ichigo-sama needs at the time, then I am happy to fill in that role."
The orange head waved him off with a fond smile before turning back to look at Haruka who had a startled look on her face. "There you have it, that thing was probably ripped to shreds seconds after we were able to cancel it."
Haruka groaned and visibly deflated onto her cushion as she adopted a more casual posture like she always did. It was weird to see her acting so goody two shoes noble-y.
Ichigo quirked another smile before turning back to his audience "So, now that that's out of the way, I believe there was something I was going to be asked."
Kazuki cleared his throat and straightened his position into stiff-as-a-board that only made him look comically in Ichigo's honest opinion.
"Yes sir," he began nervously even though his backbone remained –Ichigo mentally praised that "I want to ask your permission to court Shiba Haruka."
On Kazuki's right, his father –Dochiro- grimaced while Nana –his mother- kept an ever patient smile that had him thinking those weren't the exact words they had told him to use.
"Okay." He agreed easily, which had Haruka instantly narrowing her eyes at him and the trio looking even more startled –looks like he had completely thrown to the trash every impression they had on him. "However, I would like you to answer a question for me Kazuki."
Kazuki nodded seriously as his eyes shinned with determination. Looks like Haruka had really found herself a spit fire that was waiting to reign free. He really couldn't see his little sister with a prim and proper noble anyway, Ichigo thinks she'd go stir crazy after an hour.
"Shiba Haruka is the princess of our clan, no matter how much she likes to deny it." He added on when she looked on menacingly "So what I want to know, is what you have to offer her in the future you two see yourselves sharing."
Haruka looked confused at the question, almost as if she couldn't believe he was asking something like that. He wouldn't imagine himself doing so either, but in this case he needed to seem like a greedy bastard –somewhat.
"Uh," Kazuki began nervously as he absently tugged on one of his brown bangs. "May I be honest Ichigo-sama?"
Ichigo smiled in encouragement and gestured he continue.
"I was picked up the streets by Father and Mother some time back. I wasn't raised into this noble environment. So I slip up on manners most of the time, and all I have is because Dochiro-san and Nana-san have been kind to me since day one and treat me as their blood son." He gave a warm smile to both parents who also smiled "I didn't get to meet Ryōtaro-sama much while he was still alive, but he was always kind to me as well and I couldn't help but admire him. Everyone in this clan has welcomed me no matter what blood I carry, or how different I may look. I have come to love this clan and all its people and I admire Ichigo-sama and what he has done for the entire family as well. So-" he stopped to chew nervously on his bottom lip before his deep gray eyes hardened with determination "-I really have nothing else to offer to this clan or Haruka-chan, but I can assure you that my feelings are genuine."
Ichigo's smile widened until he started to outright laugh. Everyone looked on quizzically before he calmed down and took a deep breath to calm himself. The grin remained on his face though, and as he took a long drag from the red on gold pipe, he leaned in excitedly to stare into Kazuki's eyes.
"I like you Kazu." He told them truthfully, which startled the brunet "That is the exact answer I wanted to hear. No, you actually overcame my expectations." His grin widened "Welcome to the family Kazuki, but be warned that the main family is even crazier than then the rest."
"Ichigo!?" Haruka yelled angrily that was only downplayed by the blush dusting her cheeks "We're not getting married, we're going to start dating!"
"Yet." He responds smugly.
"Ugh!" she throws her arms up in outrage and vacates the room in an angry huff that Ichigo knows is all for show.
"So," he turns to the trio with his smile just as wide "I think dinner is in order." He tells them cheekily.
"Yes!" Shunsui slams the door open with all his excitement and a mirroring grin on his face "Shiba dinner spreads!" He yells in delight will Jῡshirō comes up behind him and karate chops him square on the head with a sweat drop.
"Sorry about him," he tells the three dumbstruck Shibas sitting in front of Ichigo "He's actually a five year-old."
"Let go!" Shunsui flaps around when Jῡshirō grabs the back of his shihakusho and drags him out the room "Let go Ju! Ichi, help me!"
Ichigo merely looks on in amusement while he nibbles with his pipe. The three new additions to the main family chaos seem like they want to question if this was really an everyday thing. The way Ichigo just gives them an amused smile makes them think that it is.
#17#
"There's gonna be a festival today!" was the first thing she told him once he arrived at the main building's gate. He blinked curiously his gray eyes and furrowed his blonde brows in harsh concentration.
"We don't have any festivals programed." He told her in lieu of an answer which had her pouting almost instantly.
She harrumphed and threw her long purple hair over her shoulder and turned the other way in mock annoyance. He honestly felt she looked more amusing than intimidating, but in a couple years that might not be the case.
"Ki-kun is no fun." She complained "The Kuchikis are hosting the festival this time."
"Eh?" he questioned with no enthusiasm making her turn her nose up further. He sighed in resignation before giving a placid smile as he rubbed the back of his shaggy blonde hair. "So we're going out today?"
"Yup!" she switched quickly to vibrating in excitement.
"Yoruichi-chan!" a man with dark black hair came running out the building as he waved at the two kids. "Kisuke-chan, Sensei said there are no classes today."
Yoruichi turned back to give Kisuke a smug smile which had Kisuke sighing again in resignation. "I heard from Yoru-chan." He said instead "We're supposed to go to the festival the Kuchikis are throwing?"
The man nodded in agreement with a kind smile towards the two "The Kuchikis may be hosting it, but it was the Shibas that pretty much gave the idea."
Kisuke blinked up curiously at the retainer in mild curiosity "I heard the Shiba and Kuchiki Clan have a really strong alliance going on right now. Is this related?"
"Well," he scratched the back of his head, as if not being able to decide if he should explain the situation to kids or not "the Kuchikis feel indebted to Ichigo-sama from the Elder Plague. This is actually a bad kept secret among the clans, but there is a reason why the current head, Kuchiki Ginrei, does not wear the traditional Kuchiki Kenseikan." He told them "The previous head didn't want Ginrei-sama to inherit, but Ichigo-sama convinced him otherwise." He grimaced "This enlarged their debt even though Ichigo-sama insists they owe nothing." He started laughing as if it were some sort of joke the kids were not privy to.
Kisuke merely hummed in understanding while Yoruichi pouted at the impromptu lesson "Boring politics." She waved off "Today is my day off, and I will not have you ruining it with these serious questions, Ki-kun."
The blonde laughed nervously at the offhanded threat before sending the retainer a grateful smile for the answer. The man merely answered in kind before giving a bow and retreating to his other chores –that actually looked like a smart move, and Kisuke would have followed his example if he wouldn't get castrated for even trying.
"So we're going to this festival." He stated calmly to placate her "What's it about?"
"Hanami." she told him as a matter of fact with a bright smile on her face "The Sakura in the Kuchiki compound are the prettiest, so they're opening to public view; there will also be some stalls."
"Let me guess, the Shibas are throwing fireworks at the end of the day?" he added drily, already knowing the answer.
Yoruichi nodded as she started to drag him out "They get more ingenious in their techniques as festivals pass, it's always interesting to watch."
"I see." He deadpanned as he let himself be man handled by the determined Shihōin princess towards the outer streets. Kisuke knows a guard will be joining their tale pretty much the entire time, but he guesses that's all the leeway they will get on their outing. They are barely three decades old, so he understands no matter how much he may not like it.
As he sighs again in resignation and nods at the appropriate time to make sure Yoruichi thinks he's actually listening as she babbles a mile per minute, he can't help but think he may end up even more tired than after his usual training. She's a real high maintenance person, and the fact that she insists on hauling him through all her adventures makes him just as much prone to incredible situations.
All of a sudden he senses the lull in her conversation and pears curiously from behind her to see what has brought her attention.
"What's wrong, Yoru-chan?" he asks.
She points in the direction of the Kuchiki compound and Kisuke follows her gaze towards the crowd of people already gathering outside the gates trying to get in. He hums in understanding and already knows what is to come the moment he sees her crossing her arms.
"That's a long line." He points out unnecessarily "Do you want to come back later?"
Yoruichi shakes her head almost instantly as she puts on a serious face that Kisuke rarely sees. "No, we'll just wait."
Kisuke nods as well and starts walking forward without looking and bumps into someone before he can even take half a step. He would have fallen on his back, if it weren't for a strong and steady hand grabbing his shoulder.
"Woah," the person he bumped into says "are you okay?"
Yoruichi makes a surprised noise from his left, so he turns up to look into deep brown eyes and almost swallows his tongue as a deep blush dusts his pale cheeks.
"I-I-Ichigo-sa-sama!"
The orange head merely smiles kindly which makes Kisuke feel even worse, because it was his fault they bumped paths –literally.
He bows lowly "I'm so sorry Ichigo-sama, I didn't see where I was going!"
Kisuke expected to be reprimanded or some sort of witty retort, but is surprised to hear the charismatic Clan Head laughing instead. He straightens nervously and looks up in shock.
The etiquette books said nothing about this!
"Not to worry." Ichigo says instead. "Were you two coming to the Hanami?"
Yoruichi almost instantly brightens at the mention of the festival "Yeah! Is Ichigo-sama coming as well?"
The orange head's smile widens as he looks down and can't help but find Kisuke's dumbfounded expression, and Yoruichi's childish enthusiasm amusing. He had seen the two kids running around causing mayhem before, but this is the first time he has spoken to them in person in this time.
"Of course." He tells them "If you would like, I bet I can smuggle us in without the gate hassle." He tells them in mock conspiracy.
Yoruichi's grateful whoop of delight and Kisuke's sigh of relief is all the answer he needs, so he gives them a winning smile and makes a gesture of follow. They go towards a side door where the guard looks resigned in amusement, yet still greats him kindly and respectfully, only shooting the two tag alongs a fleeting glance before letting them in.
As they enter the compound without a problem, Yoruichi shoots him an expression of awe while Kisuke looks like Ichigo's his new hero. He merely laughs in amusement which only serves to brighten their mood.
"Run along then." Ichigo waves them off "I bet it would be boring staying with me, I'm meeting with my crazy best friends and Ginrei-chan." He smirks in amusement when Kisuke looks like he choked on air and Yoruichi gives him a surprised expression.
For the sake of their sanity, Kisuke decides it's for the best they do as he says and pulls Yoruichi towards the right direction.
"Thank you very much Ichigo-sama." He says in lieu of a farewell, which he answers with a cheeky smile.
Kisuke thinks that those that describe the orange-haired lieutenant slash Clan Head as amazing, are onto something. At this very moment he can't help but think that that word aptly describes the hurricane that just passed by even though he thinks amazing is a type of synonym for insane –he guesses the interpretation of the word amazing is up to each person. He hopes that long distance awe is the most he will ever interact with the man if only to protect what little sanity he has left.
The way Yoruichi smirks like a cat that got the milk makes him think his purple-haired best friend liked the man too much for that to ever happen.
Kisuke looks back and sees the orange head joining an obviously drunk Kyoraku Shunsui, a softly laughing Ukitake Jushiro and an annoyed looking Kuchiki Ginrei. There's a little raven haired boy hanging onto the Kuchiki's Haori like a lifeline, yet still looks interested in the other three.
He'll be seeing more of the orange head in the future.
To be continued…
So I finished this but decided to keep it saved on my laptop in standby. Maybe write more for next chapter and see how many chapters I can write back to back between work, school and all those other real life bothersome things humans need to do –like sleeping, ugh ʕノ•ᴥ•ʔノ︵. Hopefully I can write a couple and update with those for a while before my muse disappears again.
Anyway, hope you all liked this chapter, and please review!
Thanks for reading.