Chapter Twenty-Seven
The Next Day…
Ichigo's House
Little Asahi Kurosaki was asleep in her crib. Ichigo stood over his daughter and smiled down at her. On the other side of the room Halibel slept, needing to rest from her strenuous childbirth. Attached to her arm was a device Kisuke had attached to her which was similar to the one he used to give Ichigo's energy to Halibel.
The device helped stabilized Halibel's spiritual pressure. The strain of giving birth to a baby that had been feeding off her life force was heavy. Even with Isshin and Kisuke's help it would be a while before Halibel would completely recover from her ordeal.
Looking down at his daughter, Ichigo smiled. But behind the smile was a head full of doubt and worry. He was fifteen and already a father. Asahi's conception and growth inside Halibel had been so fast that Ichigo hardly had any time to process the fact that his mentor and friend was pregnant. He reached down and gently grabbed his baby's hand. 'I'll protect you. I promise…' he silently swore. Hearing the door open behind him, Ichigo turned, expecting his dad or his sisters.
His eyes widened with shock, however, when he saw Captain Hitsugaya standing in the doorway. "Toshiro!"
The white-haired captain ignored Ichigo's usual disregard for his title and merely stared at the boy. "Hello, Ichigo." He glanced over at the crib and at the sleeping baby within. "Is that…"
"That's my daughter, Asahi," Ichigo said, making sure to keep himself between Toshiro and the baby. "So Kisuke let you out?"
"He opened his barrier this morning." He looked at Asahi for a moment before seeing Halibel awaken, her emerald eyes narrowed at him. "Let's speak outside." Ichigo followed him out into the hallway and closed the door behind him.
"And the others?"
"Zaraki returned to the Soul Society on the Head-Captain's orders. With three captains gone we can't divide our forces for now and he's a vital asset needed to defend the Seireitei. Besides, he got hurt a little when Kisuke dropped him into that Shattered Shaft of his."
"You know, it's funny when it happens to someone else…"
"Captain Unohana was able to convince Byakuya and Soi-Fon to let me talk to you and to see your child before they decide to act on the Head-Captain's orders."
Ichigo shivered, remembering Soi-Fon's threat to kill him after he openly defied her and showed the captains that he was more than willing to go against their orders. "I suppose they're pissed at me, huh?"
"That's putting it mildly." Toshiro crossed his arms. "You should have done as we asked, Ichigo. We really weren't going to hurt Halibel while she was giving birth." He sighed before looking at the door that Asahi and Halibel were in. "The child. Is it…"
"My daughter is a Human," Ichigo told the captain. "She's completely Human."
"Is she?" Toshiro asked with a raised eyebrow. He reached into his pocket. Ichigo grew concerned when the Soul Reaper pulled out a red glove from his pocket, the same glove that Rukia used to removed Ichigo from his Human body before Ukitake gave him the combat pass. "I have to make sure. The Head-Captain's orders were clear. Your teacher gave birth in a Gigai so your baby has a Human shell. I need to see her soul."
The captain didn't even get the chance to take a step forward before Ichigo barred his path. "No," he adamantly told the boy as he put on the glove.
The captain and the Substitute stared each other down for a tense moment. Becoming frustrated by Ichigo's continued defiance, Toshiro slammed his fist against the wall in a rare show of anger. "Dammit, Ichigo! You are not making this any easier!" He pointed a finger at Ichigo. "Listen to me, Ichigo. We want to trust you. We want to consider you a friend and ally. We wanted to believe you when you told us that you're just a teenager who's a victim of circumstance. But not only have you proved to be untrustworthy, you constantly challenge our authority at every turn!" His finger turned to the room, to where Halibel rested. "Do you realize the danger you're in? Do you?"
"Of course I do!" Ichigo retorted, getting angry himself from Toshiro's accusations.
But Toshiro only shook his head. "No. You don't. Right now you have a woman-" Toshiro stopped himself. "No, a Hollow, who not only knows all your strengths and weaknesses, but has allowed you to become so attached to her, you've blinded yourself to the possibility that she is still in league with Aizen."
"Barragan tried to kill her!"
"And yet, she lives," Toshiro pointed out, crossing his arms. "And have you forgotten that Aizen manipulated the events of Rukia's execution? From the moment Renji and Byakuya found her to the second that he slipped away from the Soul Society with Gin and Tosen, Aizen was in complete control over everything that happened. You were nothing but a cog in his plan. For all you know, everything that has happened between you and Halibel has been a part of his greater schemes."
"And you're grasping at straws!" Ichigo balled his hands into fists, ready to slug the boy. "She's had every opportunity to hand me and our child over to Aizen."
"Yes, and she took the opportunity to make you more Hollow." Toshiro's stern expression became harder as he thought back to the sacrilege he'd witnessed yesterday. "Do you know what we saw yesterday when you Hollowfied? We saw something that horrified us. What you did flew in the face of everything we've fought against for thousands of years." A shiver ran down his spine when he remembered the Hollowfied Ichigo. "Hollows are not evil by definition. That much is true. But that power that they wield is as black as night. It's a power that Aizen coveted so much he betrayed every single one of his friends and comrades for and now it's a power that you willingly allowed to taint your soul."
"I had no choice! I had my Inner Hollow before I came to the Soul Society because of Kisuke's training. Halibel only helped me control it! To keep it from devouring my mind and taking me over! There was no other way!"
"Is there?" Once again Toshiro shook his head. "If Kisuke Urahara created your Hollow powers, then he should know how to remove them, or at the very least seal them away so that you weren't corrupted by them." Toshiro saw the skepticism in Ichigo's eyes and scowled back. "Did you even think about turning to him for help? Knowing his experience with the Hogyoku, I'm certain he could have helped you had you only asked. Instead, you allowed Halibel to convince you to become closer to a Hollow than a Soul Reaper. Every law and lesson that I've ever been taught demands that I kill you, here and now, before you use that power for your own ends," he grimly concluded.
Clenching his teeth, Ichigo tried his hardest to ignore the compulsion to punch the captain. "That's wishful thinking and you know it." His voice was low as he tried to contain his rage at Toshiro's accusations. "If Kisuke could have helped me with my Inner Hollow, he would have said something when I came back from the Soul Society." Taking a deep breath, Ichigo tried to calm down. He couldn't lose his cool and give Toshiro any reason to attack him. "Toshiro, I am not your enemy. You have to see that."
Sighing, Toshiro shook his head. "I wish I could believe that, Ichigo. But it became very clear to the five of us yesterday that you aren't a Soul Reaper. You're…" he looked back at the room with Halibel and Asahi, "something else. And that's terrifying." He decided to try to calm down too and took a deep breath. "Ichigo, will you please step aside?" he asked with sincere eyes. "I have to do my duty."
"And what will you do if she isn't a normal Soul? Kill her?" Ichigo accused. "You guys seem to be pretty quick to kill things at a moment's notice."
Toshiro remembered Ichigo's remark from earlier. "I won't deny that…we sometimes jump to conclusions."
"That's an understatement."
"But we only do what we think is best." He put on the glove. "Ichigo, I promise that I-"
"That's enough, Toshiro."
The boys turned around to see Isshin standing in the hallway, his eyes staring intently at the pair. While Ichigo was more or less indifferent to see his father, Toshiro stared at the man with stunned eyes. "C-Captain?!" he gasped, unable to believe his eyes. He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things. "Captain Shiba?!"
Isshin gave his former third-seat a smile and walked over to them. "Long time no see, Toshiro. You've grown a bit since I last saw you."
"Wait, Shiba?" Ichigo repeated, confused. "Dad, you're a Shiba?"
"Kurosaki was your mom's name. I'll tell you later." Isshin stood in front of the captain and crossed his arms. "Toshiro-" Isshin stopped himself when he noticed the Haori, his Haori, on his back. "Captain Hitsugaya," he addressed. Toshiro blushed at being properly addressed by his former captain, unable to mask the pride he was feeling. "I know that you have a sense of duty to do your job, but remember what I taught you?"
Silence filled the hallway for a moment. Toshiro searched his memories. Under Captain Shiba, he'd learn many things but didn't know the specific lesson he was referring. "Sir?"
"Sometimes we have to trust our gut rather than the rules," Isshin told him. "I know that you have your duty to do, Toshiro. But deep down, I know that you believe that Ichigo is not your enemy." Ichigo stared at his father, having never really seen this side of him. The way he brought Toshiro to heel with just his mere presence was something to be admired. Isshin held out his hand. "Why don't we compromise, Toshiro? Give me the glove and I'll check."
For a few moments Toshiro was still as a statue, staring at his former captain while battling the conflicting emotions he was feeling. It seemed like every time he dealt with Ichigo, things got more and more complicated. But he knew Isshin. He was a good man and an honorable man. Captain Shiba may have been irresponsible but when he was serious, Toshiro could always put his faith in him. "You'll tell me the truth?" he asked as he reluctantly handed the Soul-Removing Glove over to the Kurosaki father.
"Do you trust me?" Isshin asked in a very paternal tone, like he was whenever he had a heart-to-heart with Ichigo when he was younger.
"I want to," Toshiro admitted. "But…I've so many questions."
Toshiro remembered the chaos that surrounded Captain Shiba's disappearance. The frantic days of him and Rangiku coming the World of the Living for him, the turmoil that befell the squad as they tried to deal with the captain vanishing and the grim acceptance they all had to swallow that Isshin had likely died. Seeing the man alive and well, and the father of Ichigo Kurosaki no less, raised so many questions and brought up so much emotion that Toshiro didn't know what was what anymore.
Isshin's voice cut through the storm of confusion beset in Toshiro's mind. "Toshiro, do you remember when you first joined the academy?" As Toshiro nodded to Isshin, the man continued to speak, "Do you remember how terrified everyone was of you?"
"I do," Toshiro quietly said, lowering his head.
"Didn't we give you a chance?" Toshiro put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Give Ichigo a chance to be a friend. Like we did for you."
The warmth of Isshin's presence and the kindness of his words won Toshiro over. He looked up and gave his former captain a small smile. "Okay. But you are going to explain yourself when this is over."
"I promise."
"No doubt Rangiku will be eager to see you again once I inform her you're still alive."
Isshin laughed while putting on the glove. "Yeah, after over fifteen years I'm really in for a scolding! Hahaha!" He walked past Ichigo and gave his son a friendly smile before entering Halibel and Asahi's room.
The two in the hallway waited. With Isshin's departure the warm atmosphere in the hallway faded away. Both Ichigo and Toshiro looked at each other awkwardly for a moment. "So…" Ichigo started, breaking the ice. "My dad was your captain?"
"So it would appear," Toshiro said. "Rangiku is going to give him one hell of a slap when she sees him…"
"Why? Was she his lieutenant too?"
"Yeah, but it's a bit more complicated than that…"
Isshin opened the door and stepped out again. "Whoo!" he breathed. He ran a hand through his hair before taking off the glove. "I thought Halibel was going to skin me alive!"
"She's like that," Ichigo told his father amusingly.
"And? Well?" Toshiro impatiently insisted.
"She's Human. She had a Chain of Fate like an ordinary soul. I don't know what powers she'll have when she's older but for now, she's a normal baby girl."
While Ichigo breathed a sigh of relief, Toshiro crossed his arms. He decided to believe Isshin and take him at his word. But there was another issue. "It'll be hard to convince the other captains. And they still want to punish Ichigo for his disobedience."
"Toshiro, Asahi has done nothing wrong. The right to exist isn't a sin. How is that fair?" he asked the boy.
"I suppose you're right," Toshiro relented.
"And since we're on the subject…" Isshin crossed his arms and his expression hardened. "Deliver a message to Byakuya and Soi-Fon for me: Unless they want a battle with me, Yoruichi and Kisuke, they'll leave my son in peace."
Both boys shivered from the steel in Isshin's voice. Ichigo might have heard the threat but Toshiro felt it. He knew that Isshin was more than a match for the other captains, the fact that Ichigo was his progeny was fact enough. And the captains couldn't afford to pick another fight when the war with Aizen was looming over them like a dark cloud. Even he knew that this was a fight they couldn't pick. "I'll let them know." He bowed respectfully in front of Isshin. "It is good to see you again, Captain Shiba."
"Call me Isshin. You're the captain now. And speaking of which…"
Ichigo watched in amazement while Isshin lifted up the boy proudly. "Hey!" Toshiro blushed, the nostalgia not lost on him.
"Look at you! I knew you'd make captain before Rangiku!" the man praised.
Toshiro's legs dangled as he fought the embarrassment. "Isshin! Put me down!" he cried out.
A new voice came in out of nowhere and interrupted the three. "Captain? Are you okay?" The three turned to see Rangiku Matsumoto slipping through the window at the end of the hall. "I started to get worried. Did Ichigo…" her voice trailed off when she saw the man holding her captain. "C-captain Shiba?!" she gaped.
"Hey, Rangiku. Miss me?" Isshin put Toshiro down before turning to his former lieutenant. He looked her up and down and smiled. "I'm glad to see you haven't changed much."
The strawberry blonde was silent as she stared in disbelief. But as soon as she remembered to put her brain back into her head she stormed over to the man. Ichigo and Toshiro winced as Rangiku raised her hand and gave Isshin a harsh slap. "Miss me? That's all you have to say? We were supposed to go on a date and you skipped out on me!"
"Rangiku! Ow! I can explain! Yow!" Isshin started to flee down the hallway, Rangiku following him to smack him more.
Ichigo turned to Toshiro, obviously confused. "What was that all about?"
"Rangiku was Isshin's lieutenant. And they were also dating at the time he disappeared."
"Wait, so Rangiku…"
"Was his ex-girlfriend. Yeah."
Halibel stepped out of her room and frowned, a crying Asahi in her arms. "What is all the noise? You woke up Asahi."
Toshiro took his leave quietly, avoiding Halibel's sharp gaze. Icihgo turned to his mentor and lover before shrugging. "Just dealing with Toshiro. I don't think he and the other captains will be a problem."
"Good. And while your father was checking Asahi, he agreed to watch over her while we're gone."
"Gone? What do you mean? And shouldn't you be resting?"
"My High-Speed Regeneration has already seen to the needs of my body. Though I do not have the best regenerative abilities of the Espada, that honor belongs to another, as long as nothing vital is damaged I can recover to full capacity with a day's rest or two." She handed her baby over to Ichigo.
Rocking his crying baby in his arms Ichigo looked back to Halibel. "You're going to train with me? But what about Asahi?"
"Like I said, your father and your sisters will watch over her. Through me, you've learned much and gained great power. Now is the time to hone that power. And more than that, I must also grow and reach new heights if I'm to fight with you. My defeat at Barragan's hands has shown me the limits of the powers that Aizen gifted me."
"But you were-"
"Yes, I was still carrying Asahi and the strain took its toll on my body. But even so I should still have been able to fight better. Now that I've given birth, I'm free to grow beyond what I was. Together with you," she smiled.
Ichigo smiled back. Halibel's confident nature always helped dispel any fears he might have. And he saw firsthand how powerful his mentor was, even if she was handicapped. Ichigo was very curious to see how powerful his teacher could become.
And he also couldn't deny that a more powerful Halibel was a very…tempting idea…
"Okay. Let's go," Ichigo told her.
"Let's."
The two headed into the rest of Ichigo's house. As Ichigo handed Asahi over to his sisters he saw Rangiku and his father in the kitchen, the former hitting the latter over the head with her sandal.
"Mind telling me what that's all about?" Halibel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I'll tell you later."
To be continued
