Main POV
It took a while after we'd come down from the rush for us to get up off the floor of the tub and tun off the shower. I sat on the bathroom counter in my underwear with a towel wrapped around my head and a toothbrush hanging out of my mouth as I slowly, lazily brushed my teeth. Ichigo seemed in much better spirits, strutting around the bathroom in his jeans, boxers just poking over the top of his waist band, as he dried off his hair and brushed his teeth. He seemed invigorated by the whole experience. I was sure I'd never walk again. And I could probably sleep for a thousand years.
"You could look a little less depressed," Ichigo commented as he ran his fingers through his fringe.
"I'm tired," I replied with a yawn. "Your fault."
"My fault?" he laughed.
"Actually, all the running I did, it's probably my fault but you didn't help," I told him and spat out the green foam.
I leaned back against the wall in the space between the his and hers mirrors. Ichigo finished getting ready where as I barely managed to roll on some deodorant before going back to leaning and drifting in and out of consciousness.
"Come on, we've got to get going soon, will you please at least put some clothes on?" he asked and I groaned in response. He put my clothes on the bench beside me and then headed out of the bathroom, closing the door behind him. Jerk.
Ichigo POV
"Kurosaki," Toshiro called when I reached the bottom of the steps. Everyone was staring at me, Yuzu, Karin, Oyaji and even Toshiro has a slight blush. My dad just held a deep smug grin. They must have heard. I swallowed hard. My bad. I scratched the back of my neck lightly.
"Hey Toshiro," I said, trying to hide the awkwardness in my voice. "You hear about Hat'n'clog's shop?"
"Yeah, we got back and all that was left was a smoking crater," Toshiro answered. "I heard that at least two of them won't be a problem anymore, and we have Uotani to thank."
"Yeah, don't bring that up," I told him. "She's still upset about that. She can't seem to wrap her head around the fact that they were the bad guys and she did nothing wrong."
"Wait," Karin said. "What happened? What did Uo do?"
"Karin, maybe you and Yuzu should uhhh.." I paused, where could I send them so they're not a part of this?
"Uotani is about to leave with us for the Seireitei, don't you want to say goodbye?" Toshiro butted in. I shot him a grateful smile. Karin looked mad at first we were excluding her from the conversation but then she looked torn. It was sweet the bond she'd formed with Uo. The way both of my sisters adored her. I think it would crush them just as much as it's going to crush me when Uo eventually has to leave.
"Yeah," Karin nodded. "We should go see Uo, Yuzu, she'll tell us what happened."
"WhAT!" I yelled. "Karin!"
She shot me a smug grin before grabbing Yuzu around the wrist and dragging her up the stairs at a run. I leapt of the couch to take after them but Oyaji grabbed my wrist and yanked me back down. I shot him a glare.
"She's not made of glass, Ichigo," he told me. "Give the girls some credit, they do have tact. They won't make her feel uncomfortable on purpose and they won't push her either. Let her talk to your little sisters, remember she can't talk to hers anymore." I scowled. I hated when he was right.
"So, what'd you come here come here for?" I asked, looking at Toshiro.
"Let's wait until Rukia and Rangiku get back from the vending machine," he told me.
"Fine," I scowled, folding my arms over my chest and sending one last look up the stairs.
Karin POV
"Onee-san!" Yuzu and I called as I hammered on Ichigo's wooden door. After a few long seconds of banging she finally, quietly called for us to come inside. I frowned when I saw her, I exchanged a quick glance with Yuzu who mirrored my expression. She was laying on my brother's bed, hair still wet in her underwear and jean shorts, having not got it together enough to be properly dressed. She was curled into herself as she rested her back against the headboard, hugging her knees.
"Gees, I've never seen someone look so depressed after sex," I blurted out without thinking.
"Karin-chan!" Yuzu scoled. Uo didn't seem to mind, she even cracked a slight smile.
"Sorry girls," she said finally. "I'm just tired."
"It's okay Uo I'm sure..." Yuzu started. "..that the uh, running in the sewers must have made you exhausted." Uo snorted.
"Uo, what happened today? No one will tell us anything!" I threw my arms out.
Yuzu was over at the closet, grabbing one of Ichigo's t-shirts to force Uo into. Uo patted the bed beside her and I perched on it facing her. Yuzu came over at took the spot directly beside her and tugged the t-shirt over Uo's still wet head. She smiled softly at my sister and then moved her arms into the sleeves.
"Thanks imouto-chan," Uo said softly, tussling Yuzu's hair.
"So we were about to leave last week when Renji burst into the room, they'd intercepted a signal or spiritual pressure, I'm not sure, of the bad guys. They postponed the move to the seireitei in favour of a show down, your brother, Renji and Rukia stayed with me while the others went off in search of them. But when they got there, they didn't show. It was a false alarm and we're still not 100% sure why. Of course we have our theories. So because of that, just Toshiro, Rukia and Rangiku went back to the seireitei yesterday. Lieutenants Hisagi and Kira came instead to replace them today, help keep me from harm."
"And what, then you just decided to blow up Urahara Shop?" I thew my arms out. "What happened next?"
"Well just after they arrived the real attack was launched on the shop," I explained. "It was, violent."
"Did they hurt you?" Yuzu asked. She looked up at Uo sadly.
"A little," Uo said softly, with a small nod. "I'm okay now though."
"Did you have to fight them?" I asked her. She nodded.
"I was behind the shop counter when the wall blew up, the same green fire that caused this burn on my face," she explained with a gesture to her cheek. "I ducked behind the counter and, you guys know about Kon right?" she paused and we nodded. "Well he leapt over the counter in Ichigo's body, your brother had instructed him to protect me but as you can imagine, he's pretty much useless for all but emotional support."
"Then what happened? Did you get burned again?" I asked.
"No," she shook her head. "He grabbed me, the guy. He reached over the counter and yanked me by my hair. I was screaming, fighting against him but I couldn't get free until he went to grab my face and I bit him. He let go of my hair and Kon yanked me free but.. I took a piece of him with me, I almost choked on it." I hadn't noticed she was crying softly, until she sniffed and wiped her eyes lightly. Yuzu also sniffed. "I uh, had seen a bucket of fireworks earlier and I just, instinctually, grabbed it and ran into a closet with Kon. He was searching for us and when he found us I panicked and lit one."
"It was almost comical, like something out of those western cartoons with the coyote, he was blowing on the fuse until he realised what he was doing and threw it away from him. While he was hiding for cover, Kon and I used the distraction to escape up the stairs. I had a vague plan we'd make him think we'd gone onto the roof or out the window and climb back in so we could run down the stairs, but I hadn't put much thought into it," she explained. I hung on every word.
"We hid in a closet and I dug two firework stands into the carpet and launched them when he found us and closed the door again. He dove for cover again and while he was burned and tired we fought him off enough to get out the window and onto the roof. And just when I thought we were free another one of them was on the roof. We had to fight him off, I.. I kicked him and he hit the ground below. He-he.. I killed him," she sobbed. "He was a person and I.."
"Uo, it was an accident," I told her. "He tried to kill you and my brother's body. You did what was necessary. That's different than going out and finding someone, killing them because it's fun or you could or you like it. You're not a murderer."
"I just, I didn't think it would come to this, I didn't think I'd have to.." she explained. "And then just like in that disney movie, Mulan, the other guy... I guess I killed him too."
"Wait, you blew up Urahara's shop by pinning a guy to the roof and covering him in fireworks?" I asked. "THAT'S AWESOME!"
"Karin-chan," Yuzu scolded. The tip of her nose and the corners of her eyes were red.
"Sorry," I said. I supposed, if Uo was feeling so bad about killing those guys, that I shouldn't be cheering on the way she did it. But, my future sister in law was a badass. She's done what none of the other guys could do. They were supposed to be protecting her, the ordinary human, and she saved herself. That's everything I wanted to be.
"It's alright," Uo told me. "I just, I didn't grow up thinking I'd kill someone. I grew up watching shows, just like your brother's life and the characters killing someone, like this, like the way your brother does, seemed fine when I was just watching. But now, it's all a bit real."
"I understand," Yuzu nodded. "It's hard knowing what my big brother does too, I know he's doing the right thing, but it's weird knowing he's killed people, even though he was right to do so."
"Do you think I did the right thing?" Uo asked her.
"Yes," Yuzu replied instantly. "Because if you didn't, you wouldn't be here. You wouldn't have come back to me and that's what I want most from you and Ichigo, for you to come home."
"Yeah, even if you do have obnoxiously loud sex," I agreed. "Do what you gotta to survive. The fact you're upset proves you're still human, you're the good guy. Because they sure as hell wouldn't be."
"We'll give you some space, Uo," Yuzu told her, Uo nodded, face beet red at my last comment. I grinned smugly.
Ichigo POV
I heard footsteps on the stairs and I turned. Yuzu and Karin were coming down them but unfortunately they didn't have Uo in tow. I smiled softly before I realised Yuzu had changed outfits for some reason. I raised an eyebrow. That was odd.
"Hey, Yuzu," I called. "Why are you dressed for gardening all of a sudden?"
"No reason," she replied suspiciously, in an attempt to appear non-chanlaunt. I raised an eyebrow as she and Karin passed us headed to the entryway to pull on some shoes. I could hear they'd stepped back into an argument. Those two almost never argue, I wondered what that was about.
"I'm just saying Yuzu, the appropriate response to finding out your sister killed two people is not to go and bury the bodies!" Karin yelled in a whisper. I choked on my own spit. I turned to seek Rangiku giggling with Rukia while my dad wore an amused look. I pushed myself up off the couch. I walked round the side and leaned on the wall by the entryway, crossing my arms. I raised an eyebrow when I saw Yuzu pulling on a pair of shoes twice her size. She was taking this body disposal thing seriously. She had the gloves on and everything.
"Alright," I said. "What are you two doing?"
"Nothing," they said together.
"Bullshit," I smirked. "You don't need to go and bury the bodies, Yuzu, Urahara is taking care of them. But I'm sure Uo will appreciate the thought. And I know who I'm calling if I ever kill a guy."
"Oh," she replied surprised.
"See," Karin reasoned. "Told you."
"Well at least I'm doing something about it, Karin-chan, instead of gushing over the gory details," Yuzu replied.
"I wasn't gushing!" Karin threw her arms out and I chuckled.
"Since you've already got your shoes on, why don't you two go get some juice?" I smiled softly and pulled out my wallet, handing them 1000 yen.
"Depends," Karin crossed her arms. "Can we keep the change?"
I heard Uo laughing from the top of the stairs. I looked back to see her properly dressed, wearing jeans now instead of her jean shorts and underwear. She padded softly down them and over to us, bypassing the living room. She smiled at the three of us before tussling Karin and Yuzu's hair.
"I had to come downstairs when I heard what you two were planning," she explained. "Can't have you cleaning up my messes for me, that's my job, I'm the big sister."
"I wasn't planning anything," Karin grumbled.
"Oh I see, you care less," Uo looked off, feigning heartbreak.
"What, no!" Karin yelled and Uo chuckled.
"Go get juice," I shoved the two of my sisters out the door before closing it behind them and dragging Uo over to the couch.
Main POV
After shoving Karin and Yuzu out the door and dragging me back over to the sofa he dropped down lazily onto the plush cushions. I perched beside him, Isshin on my other side. I looked around at everyone for a moment; Rukia, Rangiku and Hitsugaya were all sat on the other couch and staring at me. I rested my elbows on my knees.
"Alright," I said. "What's the plan?"
"We fall back to the soul society," Rukia replied. "Until we figure out what they want, it's not safe for you to remain here."
"Not safe for me or anyone else," I grumbled. "They almost took out Keigo and his family at my apartment and then they came for Urahara."
"That's why you're coming with us, the Head Captain feels it'll put less strain on our forces to have you in our territory," Rukia answered.
"For now, we're all falling back to regroup and brief as a whole and then send out the stealth squad to gather more intel. Once we know what they want, we can send out appropriate forces to fight them," Hitsugaya explained.
"We know what they want," Ichigo started.
"Yeah, me dead," I rolled my eyes. "What we need to know is where they are and who they are. I asked the guy chasing me through the sewers today what he wanted, why, where he was from. He was surprisingly forthcoming but I can only assume it's because he thought I wasn't making it out of there."
"Morbid," Ichigo grumbled.
"She's not wrong," Rangiku replied. "Bad guys tend to monologue when they get cocky."
"So where in the seireitei am I allowed to go?" I asked.
"What do you mean, Uotani?" Rukia asked.
"I don't know, am I going to get murdered for just wandering about or something?" I replied.
"No, you're our guest," Hitsugaya said matter of factly. "You gave me some advice once, that I'd be a lot less stressed if I took a break every now and again. The same could be said for you, Uotani: It would do wonders for your mental health if you stopped assuming everyone was trying to murder you at every possible second."
"I mean, several have tried," I pointed out with a smile.
"But not us," he countered.
"Not yet," I shrugged. "Constant vigilance."
"Where would you like to go?" he asked instead.
"I mean," I said. "If we're going all the way to the seireitei we might as well visit Kukaku and Ganju."
"Why the hell do you want to visit them?!" Ichigo yelled.
"You don't want to visit your cousins?" I asked, mildly shocked, forgetting for a moment that he didn't know.
"My what?!" He looked at me like I was crazy. "Wait, Kukaku and Ganju are my cousins?"
"Yes moron, why do you think you just happen to look like Kaien? Coincidence? No! Your dad took your mom's last name, stupid."
Out of the corner of my eye I'd been watching the smile build on Isshin's face. I could also spot confusion climbing onto Rukia's features. Rangiku didn't look phased. But then, Isshin Shiba was her Captain, so she'd already know who he was.
"Anyway, you don't have to come but I'm going," I told him.
"No, I have to," he grumbled. "Can't send you along without me. But you owe me."
"Awesome, it's settled then," I grinned. "What was it you guys had to rush off to the Soul Society for, anyway?"
"We had to go back for a ceremony," Hitsugaya told me. "The Head Captain thought with the rising threat it would be better to have all 13 Captain's positions filled."
"Congrats I guess," I said.
"Who's the new captain?" Ichigo asked and I pointed to Rukia. "How do you know?" he turned to me.
"She's right," Hitsugaya told us. "Rukia shows superior skill in battle and is a wise tactician. She'd make a good captain."
"I'm not arguing," Ichigo said. "I just don't get how a new Captain is supposed to help us any."
"Come on, dummy, a Captain inspires strength in their troops. A strong and capable leader will give them comfort and hope. As if it's not going to help," I said. "And Rukia's pretty adept at keeping idiots in line after all the practice you gave her. So why not? I just wasn't expecting it to happen so soon. Like, she only just got people to recognise her as being good enough to be a lieutenant."
"Nah, I remember Byakuya saying that he asked Ukitake not to give her a seated position so she'd be protected, keep her out of dangerous situations," Ichigo said. "Too bad her first mission to the world of the living she ran straight into me. Guess he finally learned to trust she could handle herself."
"He's always known she could," I told him. "Just like you with Karen, it's more... he's learned to worry less about what he can't control."
"If you two are done discussing the psychology behind my brother's actions," Rukia interjected. "I believe we were trying to get your girlfriend to safety."
"Do you have any other requests, or questions, Uotani?" Hitsugaya asked.
"Oh yes, I have a list of demands a mile long." He shook his head at me and I smiled. "Just one other thing at this moment," I reassured. "A map. So you know, I don't just wander around aimlessly for the entire trip."
"That can be arranged." He nodded once in agreement.