*Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach in any way, shape or form. Thanks.
CHAPTER TWO : The Ōin
Urahara Shoten-Present Time
Isshin arrived at a small shop that was lit up inside. He sighed heavily, then kicked the door open… "Kisuke Urahara I know you know I'm here. Show yourself you son of a-"
A fist came at Isshin's face but he lithely dodged it and then grabbed ahold, the person attached was none other than Tessai. Isshin gripped the mans wrist and went to flick his middle finger and thumb to send the man flying with an invincible attack only for a hand held fan to be placed between the two former captains and Kisuke's appearance. "Well well, Isshin… I've been waiting for you. Please, come on in we have matters to discuss and Tessai… ask Ururu to make some tea, please no fighting in my humble little shop." He jests eyes smiling as fake as his happiness.
Isshin glares, "No tea Urahara! How are you involved in my son's death? Last I knew, Ichigo knew nothing about you then he showed up on our doorstep covered in unrecoverable wounds and blood and saying your name!" Isshin shouts poking Kisuke in the chest as he spoke.
Kisuke pushes Isshin's hand off like an annoying fly, "If you're implying that I killed your son then you're wrong Isshin. The boy was caught off guard by a Hollow and as we all know, humans can't defend themselves from Hollows. The Shinigami who brought him to me for healing said they were too late to the scene and the wounds were just too bad for me or anyone to treat." Kisuke says.
Isshin glares, "You're the ex captain of the research and development squad 12! You know as well as I do that something could've been done! You brought him to my doorstep didn't you?! Don't lie to me Urahara, I felt your reiatsu from a mile away!" He shouts gripping the ex shinigami's jacket in his fisted hand and baring his teeth.
Kisuke looks up from under his hat with a sad yet deadly gaze, "Would you rather I disposed of him than bring him back to you?" He asks calmly and cooly.
Isshin loosens his grasp and looks down, "Ichigo and the girls are all I have left… If Masaki knew I'd let our son die and couldn't save him…"
"Masaki would understand that you tried." Kisuke says putting a hand to Isshin's broad shoulder.
Isshin looks up, "It's strange, his soul was nowhere around after he departed his body. It's like he just up and vanished without a trace." He says worry etching his features.
Kisuke looks up, "No trace of his reiryoku?" He asks suspiciously.
Isshin nods, "As if the boy never even existed in the first place." He remarks.
"Hmm, now that is an odd occurance now isn't it Isshin? Tell me, do you believe maybe Ryuken could've done something. The man is sort of suspicious if you ask me."
"Ryuken? No, if anything I think he was angry at not being able to keep the boy alive much less tamper with his soul chain and soul sleep and kill him out of malice." Isshin states thinking hard. No, he felt that was correct! Ryuken would never harm a human that didn't deserve to be harmed. He knew that much about the Quincy man.
ROYAL PALACE/SOUL SOCIETY
Ichigo's soul entered into the world of the dead, his body glowed bright yellow before slowly he became his true body. His orange spiky hair still the same and his tall height still the same as his lanky body. The thin teen sighed finally able to take in air without it hurting. "Ichigo, that's your name isn't it?" Someone asked their voice deep and echoing all around the boy. Ichigo sat up, a headache and pain in his torso and chest stopping him for a moment. "You mustn't sit up just yet, your soul is much too weak for that." The voice says and Ichigo feels hands push him back to the floor.
"...Hey, what's the big idea! Don't touch me!" Ichigo shouts but complied, lying flat once more but opening his eyes to look about. "Where is this?" He asks in wonder.
"You are where you are and nothing else matters, I ask the questions and you listen." The deep voice says sounding annoyed.
Ichigo sighs, face full of confusion, "Yes Sir." He acknowledges meekly.
"Good, you will live here until you learn what you need to know, I will tell you this though. I am the King of Soul Society, I am Ichijitsu Kawahiru and no matter if you are a human soul or a shinigami full of power, once you have crossed over into my realm. My word is absolute and you will obey me fully, do I make myself very clear child?" The voice asks sternly.
Ichigo nods and suddenly falls back into darkness.
TWO WEEKS LATER
Ichigo opens his eyes but this time no voice is there to scold him as he sits up, he stands amazed that his body didn't hurt like the first time he'd woken up here. "Where am I? Who am I?" He asked to his self while looking down at his hands then walking up to a mirror made of ice and looking at his not so reflection. The mirror image smiled at him and he steps away freaked out when it's hand starts to come through the mirror and whispers echo around him. He rushes away and ends up walking down a corridor, lit up by candle light. Dozens of pictures of Shinigami and even wax figures of famous shinigami lined the hallway. At the end of the hallway, Ichigo walks into an opened room that's pitch black only lit up by lights on the floor. His footsteps also being illuminated as he walked down the dimly lit path to an area lit up brighter than even the previous hallway. Once at the area he notices a golden stone like object with markings neatly chiseled into it and so looks it over before grabbing it to examine it more thoroughly by turning it about in the light.
"So you found the Oin, the most important question though, is… what will you do with it? You can't use its full potential unless of course you have a partner that had Bankai or you yourself achieve Bankai and you young soul don't even know what a Bankai is or how it works. So tell me, how will you work this object if you cannot?" The man asks, stepping up beside Ichigo. He had long black hair and a chiseled body hidden under an outfit made of black and white thick material. The man smirked when Ichigo held his head down and shook it as to say he couldn't. "Wrong answer Ichigo, I could help you use it's power." The man says smiling mischievously.
"Why would you teach me how to use something if it's that special?" He asks suspiciously.
The man laughs, "You can use it if your intentions are pure, you only need Bankai if you're going to cut it open to use it's raw pure power. Tell me Ichigo, what is it you want? Why were you drawn to my Oin?" The man asks stepping closer, "Did you want power? Or maybe you wanted to become human again? Maybe you wanted to turn back time? Like a pendulum swings to and fro so does your desire to be alive once more, is that it?" The man says excitedly, he places his hands on Ichigo's hand that grasped the Oin and his expression widens.
Ichigo pulls away but the man looks up at him face serious now, "Take him back, show him what he's done." The man says. The Oin begins to glow almost blinding yellow and Ichigo disappears.
SEIREITEI
Red alert sounds and markers start to go off in the 12th division, "What's this?! First the Hollowfying Shinigami now an unknown pure spiritual pressure is going off the charts on the radar! What next Nemu, will unicorns show up and give us rainbow kisses?" He stopped shouting when he heard several of his team were chatting about something other than work he growled like a psychopath angrily, "Did I say you all could slack off! All of you get back to work!" Captain Kurotsuchi shouts maniacally. "We must find the source of that pure reiatsu immediately! The Royal family may be in danger if it's what I think it is that's going out of control!" He shouts rushing to press buttons in at a fast rate and calculate ratios of normal pressure vs the pure spiritual pressure the screen beaming red while he reads what he's found.
WORLD OF THE LIVING
Isshin was still discussing the cause of death of his oldest child with Urahara when pure reiatsu stunned them, "What is that? I've never felt such pure spiritual pressure before." Isshin says when suddenly the sudden wave vanished as if it hadn't even been there moments ago. "Well, that's troubling…" Urahara says putting his hand held fan in front of his face, eyes darkening. "That was the power of the Oin, I've only felt it once years ago when they first moved it… the Royal Family must be doing something or someone has taken it and is using it. It's so pure it can be felt even between dimensions, I've got a bad feeling about this. First I receive news of their being hollowfying Shinigami within the Serietei and now the Oin is going out of control and not only that but your son's soul has disappeared without a trace. I can't help but feel like all of these events taking place and happening simultaneously together are connected to one another." Urahara sat up straight. "This could be one of the biggest crisis known to the Serietei in over five hundred years."
"There's another problem as well." A black cat says walking up to Urahara after opening the sliding door by herself and closing it with her paw.
"Oh Yoruichi, nice of you to come back so soon." Urahara says smiling and putting down his cup of tea.
Yoruichi looks at Kisuke with thoughtful eyes before her pupils dilate as the earth starts to shake. "The world is ending Kisuke! We're all going to die!" Yoruichi screams and all goes black.
Soul Society - 150 years into the past
Ichigo was floating in darkness, light ebbed at a long distance away every so often. He couldn't remember anything or anyone. Who was he? Where was he? Why was it so… dark? He felt his legs kick out a few times every so often but he couldn't manage to open his eyes. He couldn't seem to hear either, but after a while his hands began to move about and he heard sound for the first time since he'd arrived in this empty and plain place of darkness. Then his mouth opened, he felt liquid in his mouth but didn't feel like he was choking. He then learned his eyes could open but everything was hazy and still dark. He was just able to make out faint outlines of non color. 'What is this place?' He thinks feeling his legs kick out harshly again. He puts a hand to his face to look at it, his flanges were tiny and his palms were miniature. He moved so he could see his feet, they too were very small and fragile. He decided that was too much thinking and so closed his eyes to complete darkness once again, feeling almost calm. A long while later he felt something, it was akin to pain but it was more on the lines of suffocation and being squeezed to death. All at once the world went bright again but he didn't feel good, he still couldn't breathe and sounded like his lungs and airways were full of fluid. There was too much noise and the fast movements were making him feel woozy.
"We've got to get the fluid out of his airways fast! He's suffocating!" A woman says sternly. He feels something go down his throat suction thick goop from his throat and to his embarrassment he started to make sounds, the object was placed in his throat again and then into his nostrils as he hears a loud fluid like cry coming from his own lungs. He feels his arms tense up and his legs kick about like crazy and he feels freezing cold but sudden warmth when the woman picks him up and places him on a warm soft surface. "There we go, let's get him warmed up then make sure his vitals are okay, alright Mrs. Shiba?"
"Thank you, Captain Unohana." The woman, Mrs. Shiba says smiling but worn out. She holds the baby's tiny head gently with care and places her cheek to his now hat clad head her other hand just under his blanketed bottom. She smiles when her husband walks up and looks down at the small newborn cradled ever so gently against her chest that is now sucking on his fist and looking about without really looking. He yawns and closes his eyes still trying to eat his miniature fist.
"He's perfect, Miyako-chan." The man says and kisses her. Miyako smiles when he pulls back slightly and she nods, "He's so small and fragile, oh Kaien it's like a dream. Our baby boy is finally here." She says jubilated.
An Hour Later
Miyako was fast asleep and Kaien was watching and helping the nurse bathe the baby while she did his tests on him. She was a bit worried because he hadn't taken to breast feeding but would whimper and try to nibble on his fist while making an uncomfortable face. The nurse had to do her tests on him anyway just like they'd done a few minutes after skin on skin time. She thought maybe a warm bath would help him calm down and thus he wouldn't be stressed about eating. "Is he hungry? He keeps making noises and nibbling his knuckles." Kaien asks. The nurse nods her head, "He could be cold so we're hurrying but I'm sure he's just a bit stressed and will eat here maybe after his bath. Sometimes the first time is a bit hard, they have to learn that they feed from their mouths and that momma's breast is where they get that but he'll learn. If not there's a bottle option as well." The nurse says smiling when the baby looked at her with an odd expression then made bubbles on its tongue and stared before jolting at sudden touch of the warm washcloth his eyes going wide. She picked him up and placed him into a warm soft towel to dry him then lotioned him before putting him in the outfit Miyako had asked her to place him in. The baby was mainly moving about, making wide eyed chubby faced expressions and kicking his legs involuntarily. Kaien freaked out when the nurse put the baby in his arms but calmed down after a moment of watching the newborn making weird eye movement and making bubbles. Kaien sighed and placed the babies mini hand to his cheek and closed his eyes, completely and utterly in love with his child from the moment they made eye contact. The baby made a face then started to pout before crying, Miyako opened her eyes and slowly sat up against the headboard and pillows of her bed. She smiled then put out her hands, "Should we see if he's hungry?" She asks. Kaien nods and walks over to hand her the crying infant and watches her attempt to breastfeed him for the second time since his birth. He struggles away but after another three attempts he figures out what she's doing and gives in, his crying silenced and now just feeding noises and hand and leg movements as he eats. Miyako smiles, "He figured it out!" She says jovially.
Kaien smiles, "I see that." He says and bends down to kiss her. She smiles into the kiss and the baby makes a face still distracted with hunger.
Ichigo felt like he was going to die of embarrassment, a woman had her boob out and had it shoved in his face! After he figured out it was because he was a baby again and she was trying to feed him he tried to get away only to give up when she looked about to cry. He was hungry but seriously! Why a boob?! Why was he a baby?! Who were these people and who the hell was he? He hadn't figured any of that out yet. He knew he had the intelligence of higher than a baby and he knew he wasn't supposed to be a baby so he couldn't understand why he was one! The bath was worse than the boob to the face, he was naked and a girl was washing his baby parts! If he could blush he would!
A knock sounded on the door to the room and he felt a cloth being draped over him and the woman. Ichigo was happy about that, he didn't want people seeing him eating in the way he was! "Uncle Isshin! You came, did you bring Ganju and Kukaku? Any of the other Captain's?" The man Ichigo knew his voice from how long he'd been hearing him talk… what? Over an hour now?
"Actually I did bring some people along, haha." Isshin shouts excitedly.
Ichigo didn't like the loudness of the man's voice so he stopped what he was doing and started to whimper, Miyako lifted the cloth off and fixed her top so she could put him on her shoulder to burp him. "May we come in?" Another voice, a soft voice asks. Kaien smirked, "Of course Captain, you're always welcomed. Please all of you, join us." He says.
Ichigo put his face towards the woman's throat and whimpered not wanting to burp. When she finally made him burp she sighed and looked up at the large party of people entering the room. The baby made a noise of comfort and then yawned, looking up when he was being gently handed to somebody. "He just ate so I wouldn't jostle him too much dear, less you want puke on your clean uniform." Miyako says then giggles. Kaien smiles at her then walks up to the others, "There's no way that tiny thing is a human." Ganju says, Kaien bends down to his little brother's short height and smirks, "Wanna bet? Put your finger to his hand for a second." Kaien says to Ganju who nods and does as asked gasping when the baby involuntarily squeezes his single finger. "Wow, that was so cool! Can I hold him?" Ganju asks. Kaien points to a chair and Ganju races over to it and plops down. "Be careful okay, he's just a baby so he can't move like you and me yet. Keep him securely in your arms okay?" Kaien says and places the baby in Ganju's arms. "Big brother, why does he have orange hair?" Kukaku asks walking over and kneeling next to Ganju and touching the baby's hair. "He has your hair style but why orange?" She asks.
"Captain Unohana was interested about that as well, she hasn't gotten results back yet though I'm assuming because she hasn't come back yet to inform us." Miyako says eye smiling a finger in the air as she spoke on the matter.
"Miyako, it's nice to see that you're well after the birth." Captain Ukitake says.
"Yes, we were all worried when you collapsed." Captain Kyoraku replies moving to remove his sakkat.
"Oh, thank you. I'm sorry for causing such chaos. I'm feeling much better now." Miyako says again smiling brightly getting a nod of affirmation from the Captain's.
"He's two weeks early isn't he?" Isshin asks.
"Almost three weeks but Captain Unohana said he's just fine. His lungs and throat were full of fluid after birth and restricting his breathing but other than that she said he scored well on his assessments. He'll be alright and so will Miyako." Kaien says smiling warmly over to his beautiful wife.
"That's great news." Captain Ukitake says sounding relieved.
"Yes, we should celebrate." Captain Kyoraku states.
Kaien laughs, "Sure." He replies.
"Come now Ganju, let your uncle hold the little thing now." Isshin says and Ganju pouts but hands the baby over and crosses his chest with his now free arms and jutts out his bottom lip.
"Have you named him yet?" Ukitake asks.
Kaien looks at Miyako, "We have a lot of names but we've not yet named him." She states. "We were actually going to ask if anyone wanted to help out in that process."
"How about Firework!" Kukaku says loudly. Kaien deadpans, while everyone chuckles. "What? Look at his hair! He's pale and yet his hair is almost neon orange!" She defends herself.
"What about… Ichigo?" Isshin asks looking into the baby's eyes while play boxing with his tiny hand that was fisted tightly around his pointer finger. Ichigo watches the giant man closely and quietly, amused by his playing about and feeling as if he should know the man.
Kaien gasps, "But Uncle Isshin, you've always said that's the name you'd choose for your own child. Why would you give it up so easily?" He questions.
Isshin shrugs his shoulders, "It seems to be a good fit for him."
"I agree, he does look like a strawberry." Kyoraku muses.
Isshin glares at his fellow comrade, "It means, One who protects you drunk." He defends and the baby let's go of Isshin's pointer finger to reach up and touch his cheek while making bubbles. "Do you like that name?" Isshin asks voice oddly quiet. Ichigo was thinking hard in his mind, the name seemed familar and pleasant so he tried to accept by touching the man's forehead since he couldn't seem to talk or make a happy face.
"Ichigo it is then." Miyako says seeing the baby was content in his great uncle's arms and making hand gestures with every question the man asked him as if he knew what he was being asked.
Ukitake smiles, "Well then, congratulations Third Seat Shiba, Lieutenant Shiba. The baby is beautiful and healthy. We will take our leave now." He says turning towards the door after patting his Lieutenant's shoulder proudly.
"Yeah, make sure you come have a few drinks with us when you're all released from here." Kyoraku says his voice excited as he pretends to have a cup of sake in his hand.
Kaien bows, "Thank you Captain's." He says and holds the door as they leave.
Isshin hands Kaien the baby back, "He's perfect Kaien." He says watching Ganju stand up and rush over to Miyako.
"When do you and Ichi get to come home?" He asks energetically.
Miyako smiles eyes turning into upside down smiles as she pats Ganju on the top of his head, "If all test results come back fine we'll be home by tomorrow." She tells him.
"...and I can hold him again then?" He asks her.
Miyako giggles, "Sure, as much as you want." She confirms.
Ganju starts to jump about and cheer, Ichigo makes a face and whimpers at the loud noise to which Ganju rushes over and brushes his hand over Ichigo's cheek softly, "Did I scare you Ichi?" He asks voice softer.
"Babies are sensitive to loud noises you idiot." Kukaku says grabbing her little brother's wrist and then waving at her older brother and sister in law, "We'll see you tomorrow, let's go now Ganju, Uncle Isshin! We've fireworks to build! You promised to help Uncle, no take backs!" She says and drags both men out the door behind her.
Kaien sweats, Miyako just giggles at her sister in laws adorable antics. "Such a strong woman, to be able to pull those two about like they're weightless." She muses, even though Ganju was short and sort of small. Still, he was a Shiba! Kukaku threw him about like he was a drying wet sack of weightless burlap.
Kaien placed Ichigo into Miyako's arms, she smiled warmly… "So much company wore him out, he's sound asleep." She whispers sighing contentedly when Kaien kissed her forehead.
A knock on the door sounded, "Hello Mrs. Shiba, Mr. Shiba. I've the test results back for your little…"
"Ichigo." Miyako says, Unohana nods happily.