Chapter 28: The Shiba's

Shiro once again felt as if he should have stayed behind. When they arrived at the Shiba manor or hideout, two giant arms could be seen sticking out of the ground with staircase going down into the household. That alone should have set off alarms in his head. Next they met Kukaku. She seemed nice enough, until she began yelling at Ganju and Ichigo who had been glaring daggers at one another. He really didn't like loud obnoxious people. She seemed to finally notice Shiro, who began a countdown in his head as to how long before she called him a hollow.

Instead she just grinned as spoke. "Well, aren't you the odd duck."

Feeling heat rise to his cheeks, Shiro turned his head away and scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, yeah." he muttered quietly. So no teasing about looking like a hollow? He grinned. I think I like this chick already.

"So, what's the problem?" she asked looking at Yoruichi.

"We think he is about to make a move." Yoruichi told her old friend before delving into what brought them to Soul Society.

"So he made the mistake of picking a fight with you all when young Rukia was brought back by her brother, Byakuya Kuchiki." She looked at Yoruichi. "You've always been a bit protective of that boy." Her eyes looked towards Ichigo and his brother. "However, it seems you've become protective of a couple of others now."

Yoruichi's golden eyes gleamed. "What can I say? I am true to my nature."

"Maybe so, but to go up against him, these kids will need a bit more training." She then smile. "But you know that. This is why you came to me before going to the gatekeeper; isn't it?" Yoruichi just continued to grin.

Blood. Fire. Heat.

Blood filled the street before Shiro. Large pools here and there littered the pristine white streets before him as heat could be felt on his skin behind him. Turning, the white haired teen stared in horror as the buildings and tall towers of the Seireitei burned with liquid how fire that seemed to glow blue. Beneath his feet more blood pooled around him until he was dragged beneath it, under the streets and downing in blood. His eyes widened in horror even more as he saw his twin, Ichigo bleeding out from deep gashing wounds. His eyes staring lifelessly into the bloody abyss.

Shiro awoke with a gasp. The sheets were soaked from sweat. The dream had ended but the images were still so clear. He could still feel the heat of the fires on his back. However, nothing had been more nerve racking than seeing Ichigo in that state. He never wanted to see that image ever again.

Gaining control over his breathing, the young man pushed the sheets away from his body. After meeting Kukaku Shiba, the head of the Shiba clan, their group had been given rooms and food. Soon after they had eaten everyone was sent to bed. Early morning training had been decided. He didn't know what this training was going to be like, but he had a feeling that he wasn't going to enjoy it.

Swinging his legs over the futon bed's side, Shiro stood up and tried to find the kitchen. The manor was very large with a lot of empty rooms. Kind of made him wonder why the rooms were all empty. It took him a bit to find the kitchen, but once there it took him longer to find where the milk was kept. There wasn't a modern refrigarator in the place! Instead he found an ice box where the meat and milk, along with other food were kept. Pouring himself a glass, he noticed Yoruichi on the counter when he turned around.

"Geesh!" he yelled at her as he placed a hand over his heart. "You like to scare me or what?!"

Yoruichi chuckled. "Sorry, I heard someone walking around and decided to have a look." She then spotted the milk.

"Want some?" he asked her as he picked up the small milk jug.

"I may look like a cat, but I'm not really one." she told him, her cheeks flushing at the thought of drinking some milk.

"I had a feeling..." Shiro mumbled before putting the milk back in the ice box. "I'm curious about something." Yoruichi looked back at the teen. "Why are there so many empty rooms?"

Yoruichi laid down on the counter, getting comfortable in the position. "Your father told you and Ichigo about his past; correct?" Shiro nodded at her. "Then you know that he use to be the head of the Shiba clan."

"Yeah, he said something about a first cousin taking over." he told her before taking a drink from his cup of milk.

"Kaien Shiba." Yoruichi told him. "He was Kukaku and Ganju's elder brother." She clarified for the younger man. "However, many of the Shiba family members did not like the fact that Kaien wasn't of the main branch of the family and once he died, Kukaku became the head. This made many very angry, so much so that they left the family manor. Over the years the Shiba's have lost grace with the other four head clans of the Seireitei and are now considered outcasts of sorts." She sighed with deep sadness as she looked down at her paws. "Because Isshin left without leaving any heirs there were no other main branch relatives that could or would challenge for rule."

"Heirs?" Shiro questioned. "You mean like Ichi and I?" Yoruichi suddenly looked at him with wide eyes. "Well actually it's be Ichi, he's the eldest of the two of us."

"I thought-" she began only to be interrupted by the dark eyed teen.

"What? That I was the elder of the two of us?" he questioned her. Shaking his head he grinned down at her. "Nope. I just learned faster than Ichi. Our joke use to be that he's the King and I'm the horse that does his bidding." He swallowed the rest of the glass of milk. "I think I'll go back to bed."

As he went to leave Yoruichi spoke. "Shiro," He paused by the kitchen doorway. "why were you up in the first place."

Shiro gave her a grin over his shoulder. "I'm a teenage boy, do I need a reason to be up?" He the left her alone in the room, the whole time dreading going back to bed and having another bad dream.

Shiro listened and watched as Kukaku explained how to create the barrier around his body in order to be shot out of the canon outside. Yep, that's right. He, along with the others, were going to be shot out of a canon and begin their invasion into the Seireitei by punching through the protective barrier that protected the shinigami city. He glared at the ball in his left hand. Yeah, he knew today was going to be a shitty day.

Nearby Orihime, Chad and Uryu all completed the training easily. The three friends heard Ichigo straining to even do it. In Shiro's mind his brother sounded like he was constipated and not trying to do the training exercise at all. Then all eyes turned towards him. It was always interesting when Shiro got embarrassed. His pale white skin would turn a healthy rosy color, as he would begin fidgeting in place and would have a downcast look. That's how he was right that second and he really wished everyone would stop looking at him!

In his mind he could hear his hollowfied zanpakuto laughing his ass off because as good as he was swinging a sword around, Shiro knew jack-shit about kido or any other defensive spell out there. So it was even harder for him to focus because of that damn spirit.

Not even realizing he was doing anything and because his eyes were closed because he was trying very hard to focus his energy and power, Shiro didn't know he too had just created his own barrier with the ball. Orihime's gasp caused him to open his eyes to look at her. "Huh?" he said as he noticed that he was now towering over everyone and floating in the air! "Wha-"

"Focus!" Kukaku yelled at him. "Do you want to kill us?! You buffoon! You've concentrated too much energy! Let it flow outwards before the ball combusts!"

When the energy did drain suddenly Shiro fell to the ground with a thud and causing Ichigo to burst out laughing. Yeah, today is a wonderful day.

Shiro had never been so hungry than he was when he left the training room. Ichigo had to stay behind due to him not having gotten the hang of creating the barrier, hell he wasn't even sure how he kept doing it. He just imagined stuffing all his energy into a tiny hole is all. "Kuro- I mean Shiro." Orihime's voice caught Shiro's attention. Turning towards her direction he saw that she had two plates in her hands. "I made some food with the ingredients from the cook.

Behind him both Ishida and Chad felt queazy at the thought of eating something she made. Orihime had the reputation of making the oddest things to eat. Lucky bastards. he thought, knowing it would be rude not to eat her food. Taking the plate from her, Shiro saw two fish on the plate along with a bun. "What's in the bun?" he inquired curiously.

"Um. Raspberry jam, sweet bean paste and banana cream." she admitted cheerfully.

It wasn't the worst combination but it really didn't sound good. His stomach rumbled loudly. Sighing, he smiled at her. "Thanks."

Orihime's face suddenly lit up with her own smile as she went to sit down and eat, Shiro following her. Figuring that it would be best to eat her concoction first, Shiro bit into the bun. At the first bite, he just couldn't stop eating it. When he was done , Shiro notice everyone was staring at him. "What?" he asked sounding annoyed now.

"You liked it?" Orihime inquired curiously.

Truthfully he had barely tasted it and had practically inhaled it. Food was food and he was starving. "Yeah." he half lied. It wasn't like it was going to make him sick. She had yet to do that with any of her concoctions. They were just odd. Orihime's beaming smile was worth the lie anyhow.

He's lying. Both Uryu and Chad were thinking at the same time.

Shiro was about to start his fish when he felt something. Uh-oh. he heard his sword say. Quickly standing Shiro took off towards the training room. When he arrived an explosion occurred. Inside Ichigo was bit singed but otherwise alive.

"WHAT THE HELL!? DIDN'T YOU LISTEN TO ME EARLIER!" Kukaku began to kick and punch Ichigo.

Scratch that, he had been alive. Shiro shook his head.

"AND YOU'RE JUST AS GUILTY AS HIM!?" She yelled angrily at Ganju who got the same beating as his brother.

Walking away from the scene as quietly as he could Shiro wanted nothing to do with his supposedly crazy cousin. He just wanted to finish his dinner and go to bed. Tomorrow was another day for abuse from that woman anyhow.

M-Angel: Yay! I got this chapter out before Christmas! I hope everyone liked it.