"Are you sure about this, sir?" The Squad One Lieutenant asked of his commander.
After getting word about the invitation to the Soul King's palace, Yamamoto had ended up refusing it, though he gladly allowed the others to go if they wished. Those closest to him were quite surprised, Kyoraku standing next to Sasakibe.
"I've had quite enough excitement for a good decade or so." Yamamoto waved off their concerned looks. "Let the brats have their party, I look forward to the peace and quiet around here while they're gone."
"Come on, old man, I doubt the kid is going to get to invite us like this again, may be the last chance to see what it's like up top."
"Oh, but we have the Kurosakis." Yamamoto turned to look out to his garden with a chuckle. "There are no rules when they're involved."
"I thought he hated that about them…" Sasakibe muttered to himself. Kyoraku just smirked and shrugged.
"I'll save some royal sake for you, old man." The Squad Eight Captain waved to his boss and left. He couldn't wait to see what would happen tonight and wondered what the royal ladies were like.
It was determined that everyone would be allowed to ride their dragons up to the realm, but Senjumaru had them return their new garments for now until they arrived. While they waited for her to finish up the last few outfits on those going, Karin was still forced to sit quietly while Rukia tried a few things with her hair for practice. Rangiku was nearby working on Yuzu's hair.
"You have surprisingly soft hair for how little you say you use product." Rukia commented as she tried a traditional bun.
"I've heard leaving it alone is actually better for it, I just brush it to keep the tangles out." Karin shrugged. "And I still wash it in the shower of course, but all the sprays and stuff are too much work."
"I've curled mine sometimes." Yuzu spoke up. "It's fun to try new things."
"Everyone knows girls with curly hair are the best to drink with." Rangiku chuckled as she tossed her own natural curls over her shoulder. "What about you, Karin, would you try curls?"
"Too much work." She grumbled.
"How about just your bangs, it might frame your face nicely." Rukia suggested, reaching for the curler Rangiku held out.
"Ooh, think Lord Hitsugaya might like it?" The sly look on Yuzu's face made Karin turn on her quickly, ignoring Rukia's protest.
"What happened to my shy little sister that got all flustered about boys!?"
"I went to high school." Yuzu giggled, Rangiku joining her. "You know Miss Shutara spent more time on you than anyone else cause she wants you to look good for him."
"I'll look good for myself, thanks." Scowling, Karin let Rukia face her forward again and sat still.
"You go for it, girl." Rangiku cheered her approval with a cheeky smile. "That's what he likes best about you after all, told me so himself."
"When!?"
"Hm, I guess it was more of an intuition."
"Liar!"
Waiting outside for them to finish, Ichigo just huffed to himself. He felt like his sisters had grown up too fast, but there wasn't much he could do about that. The last two years had been a ride or die experience for them, and while glad it was over, he knew he couldn't expect them to be the same. He worried somewhat more for Yuzu than Karin, as Karin had her pick and he could be trusted, but Yuzu was just finally reaching out on her own, no longer needing to be the responsible one at home. He hoped she found someone that wouldn't take advantage of her kindness.
He noticed a green blur pass by his dragon, Aberon waking from his nap to see who was near him. It was one of the newer dragons, a Flora-Light type that were considered to be pseudo Healing dragons since they could make their own plants but not use them quite as effectively as the Light-Flora versions could. These little guys also stayed fairly small, their wings growing more like an insect so they could hide within trees easily.
"What are you doing here, fairy?" Aberon grumbled at the forest green dragon. Fairy was apparently a popular nickname for the pseudo healers due to their small size and wing type.
The dragon looked up at Aberon with bright magenta eyes as if noticing him for the first time. There were pentagonal plates running down his spine in a soft gray, talons a sharp red and the tuft at the end of his tail a bright orange. A small fairy-winged dinosaur looking dragon.
"Not doing anything." The green dragon huffed. "I got lost."
"Well at least you're honest." Rangiku's dragon, Ahvain, snickered from her perch up on a building. She always liked to be up higher than the others. "Where are you trying to go?"
"My partner said he's with, uh…" He took a minute to remember. "Squad Four?"
Ichigo looked over the strange little dragon, noticing a healing pack strapped to his chest, and had an idea who he was looking for. He also knew said person was hurrying their way.
"Just stay put, buddy, you'll find him." He called out to the dragon.
"How to I find him by standing still?" Rustling his thin green wings, the dragon turned a confused gaze on Ichigo.
Simply pointing over to a corridor off to the side, Ichigo said nothing further, not needing to as a breathless Hanataro stumbled into the square.
"Oh!" Wagging his tail excitedly, the green dragon hopped over to the new arrival. "There you are, I couldn't find the building you said."
"I know… I saw…" Hanataro panted, leaning up against the wall for a moment. He spotted Ichigo and let out a surprised yelp. "Oh, Lord Kurosaki, I didn't see you there."
"Come on, Hanataro, you don't need to call me that." Ichigo scowled.
"I most certainly do!" The healer didn't look like he'd budge on the topic, bowing deeply even as Ichigo grumbled.
"Why?" Hanataro's dragon partner asked.
"Because… well, I'll explain later, Captain Unohana is expecting us for your training." He turned to Ichigo once again and bowed a second time. "I hope Harmeni didn't cause any trouble, I've noticed he gets lost pretty easily."
"All of your human walls look the same." Harmeni whined in complaint. "Not like the Wilds at all! Every tree there is unique and easy to find!"
"You'll get used to it, little fairy." Dyrilӕn chuckled. The pseudo healer pouted in her direction. "For now just stick near your partner."
"The other healers can help you learn where everything is super easy!" Shimmer added on with a toothy grin.
Hanataro noticed the true healer and glanced towards the building all the dragons were huddled around with Ichigo, realizing Yuzu was here. Face flushing, his gaze whipped back towards Ichigo and with a nervous cough he quickly turned to leave, stuttering apologies, Harmeni close at his heels. Ichigo just watched, ideas turning in his head.
"Meh, better to keep my nose out of it." He decided.
Eventually the sun started dropping back down in the sky, signaling the approach of afternoon and their time to head skyward to the palace. Those without dragons followed Senjumaru to the Tenchuren she used to arrive, while the rest made their way up by flight. New riders meant they had to take things a bit slow, but they found it quite enjoyable.
They landed first in the main city where riders dismounted and tried make themselves look more presentable to the nobles roaming about to greet them. Myndrӕl also greeted them there, letting the dragons know that they were welcome to stay in the Kingdom of Magika for the evening since a palace would not be very fitting for most of them.
"Perhaps small dragons can stay?" Shimmer asked, giving her best impression of puppy eyes as she leaned up against Yuzu.
"Aww, Shimmer, you don't have to be with me all the time." Yuzu hugged her dragon's neck tightly. "Go play with the other dragons, it's just one night."
"Oh fine." The healer pouted, though she perked up quickly as Ahvain and Tӕlaf called her over. Soon the whole flock was vanishing into the forests of the Greenleaf family's home, leaving a lot more room for the people in the city.
"They sure fixed things up fast here." Karin noted, seeing most of the buildings that had been destroyed in their fights already in the final states of repair, perhaps just missing a bit of paint.
"I'm sure they had to, the Royal Families can't go without a place to live." Rukia replied. "Sometimes my brother breaks a few things in the mansion when he notices the Women's Association is up to no good and it gets fixed right away."
"So it's a rich person thing…"
"And our activities aren't 'no good' they're super beneficial to everyone!" Rangiku argued from her other side. "You only don't join us because of your brother."
Sensing eyes on her, Rangiku turned to see Byakuya giving her a fierce glare from his peripheral. He was quite tired of their shenanigans in his home. They quickly moved on from the topic.
Senjumaru at the head of their group, she took them into the palace to the floor that once belonged to Toshiro's father, a familiar place to most of them, showing them the halls of rooms they could use to get ready, names already on the door where she had their new outfits waiting for them if they had one.
After finding hers and stepping over to the fire red kimono made for her, Karin quickly realized she had never put on anything so complex before.
"Jeez, no wonder they don't make them like this anymore." She sighed to herself. "Well, there's no problem a Kurosaki can't solve."
It took all of five minutes for her to decide that there were absolutely problems a Kurosaki could not solve. Out of frustration she almost threw one of the layers, but out of respect for her father's bank account made sure not to and instead stomped over to the wall and punched it. Not long after, Rangiku slid open the door and stuck her head inside.
"Need some help?" She offered. She was the room next door and had a pretty good idea what the loud thump was about. Her own kimono was already on her with just the obi missing, the pink garment in her hands, the dress around her frame a dazzling silver like ash with pink flowers spread across it, dotted by emerald green paw prints to seem like leaves.
"…yeah…"
On another floor, several families dressed in traditional garments of their origin culture eagerly awaited the arrival of the warriors, wanting to see the proud fighters that helped end a century long war. Their king had hoped it would just be his friends, but he could only go so far before it was too obvious he was playing favorites, so he couldn't tell them no to participating. With the help of the palace staff he had made his wintry themed floor a bit more open and inviting to guests. Definitely louder than he liked, but this was a rare occasion.
"If only I could get your hair to behave." Standing next to him, one of Senjumaru's seamstresses was doing a last minute check before he was allowed to step into the great hall. She and the other assistants had been unsuccessful with getting Toshiro's hair to do anything other than stick up in soft spikes, and he was not about to let them pile on hair grease to make it stay down.
"It does that when it's short, and I prefer it this way." He replied casually, running a hand through it to push his bangs back. A haircut had felt pretty good, though he felt bad for their frustrations when they couldn't get it flat afterwards.
"Well, if that's what you wish." Finally giving up, the seamstress backed off and bowed her head. "I hope you enjoy your evening, Your Majesty."
Toshiro waited until the woman had walked out of the room before reaching into a pocket to make sure he remembered his gift. It was absolutely important that he had it… now it all depended on finding the right moment.
He took one more look in the mirror, wondering if it really was still him staring back at him. It was his eyes, but there was a new depth to them that was almost unfamiliar to him, and his body had become lean and tall. Well, Ichigo and the others still stood over him, but he did not look like a child anymore. His attire was unfamiliar to him as well. Even two years in the palace didn't get him used to the rich fabric after a lifetime in poverty, especially when it got hand-tailored that day. The long haori jacket was the flashiest piece of course, a deep blue with an icy dragon curling across the bottom, wings stitched across the back. The hakama were black with a snowflake pattern while the layers underneath were a simple ice blue. He did like it… it was just that part of him still felt too poor to wear it.
Sighing, he turned away, knowing the longer he looked at it the more faults he would find. Surely the Soul Reapers would be arriving soon, he didn't want to be late after inviting them.
The halls were at least quiet as he made his way to the great hall, allowing him time to think and prepare. So many scenarios ran through his head, most of them ending terribly and starting to make him more nervous by the second. Perhaps having time to think to himself wasn't the best idea. What was he supposed to say? What if she didn't like it? What if-
'You worry too much.' Hyorinmaru grumbled at the flood of thoughts.
Perhaps his dragon was right. He stopped just before the doors and took a deep breath to calm himself.
Everyone inside grew quiet and turned as the door opened. Upon recognizing who was there, they bowed their heads in respect. The Commanders approached first to welcome him.
"Looks like I was a bit late after all." Toshiro commented as he noticed a few of the men from his home were already grazing at the appetizers already set on the tables. They froze as they were noticed and were quick to bow their heads with everyone else.
"Lady Shutara said to expect as much since she wasn't able to do your fitting herself and knew it would take longer." Commander Ryder replied, trying to remain professional but unable to keep the smirk off her face.
"Of course she did…" He rolled his eyes. "As you were."
They relaxed from their stances and stepped aside so he could join everyone else. The Royal Families were quick to greet him with their usual cordial responses, but once he got over to where Renji, Ichigo, Shuhei and Kyoraku were he got a much more natural greeting. They still gave their respectful bows, but their tone was much lighter and their grins genuine. The nearby royals seemed upset with their behavior, but said nothing with their king among them.
"Senjumaru sure did a number on all of you." Toshiro noted as he looked over them. The style wasn't too different from the usual Soul Reaper uniform, but in obviously more expensive fabric and different colors. Renji's was a deep maroon with a skull pattern, Shuhei had a dark almost blackened purple, and Kyoraku had a dark blue with pink blossoms, though he snuck in his usual pink haori and wore that over top. At least it matched, so perhaps Senjumaru expected the coat to come attached. Ichigo had to stay in uniform as he was told before, but he seemed the most comfortable out of everyone there.
"Jeez, don't remind me, just thinking about the debt involved with this thing makes me nervous." Renji shuddered.
"Now you know how I feel."
"She wouldn't make you pay for it, would she?" Shuhei looked shocked that even the Soul King couldn't get away from Senjumaru's debt.
"Doubtful, but that doesn't mean I'm comfortable in it." Toshiro corrected. "I've been here two years and this still feels like something I would have never even be allowed to look at much less keep."
"Ah, yeah, you did grow up a lot like we did."
"Royalty seems to fit you well now though." Kyoraku spoke with a teasing grin.
"Liar." Toshiro deadpanned.
"I'm serious!"
"At least you're still you." Ichigo finally got a word in. "Makes it easier to stick around."
"You're one of these families now too, idiot, you have to stick around." Renji shot back.
"Yeah, you're not laboring men like us anymore, you're one of the big boys." Shuhei added.
"Do you really think Kurosaki can pass as a noble?" Toshiro questioned them with one brow raised in doubt.
Shuhei and Renji shared a glance before letting out loud laughs. Ichigo wasn't sure if he wanted to bash their heads in for being assholes or agree with them since he also didn't see himself joining the cushy noble life very easily.
"No worries, Ichigo, I'm sure your reputation proceeds you here." Kyoraku patted the orange-haired guardian roughly on the back.
Ichigo glared sharply at him, still questioning if he was being insulted or supported.
Over time the others began to arrive as well. Kenpachi, Shinji, Kisuke and Yoruichi were quick to start drinking while Yachiru cheered them on, Kyoraku not far behind once he noticed them. When Isshin arrived with Yuzu, he was also quick to join them and left his daughter with his son, something Ichigo punched his father's head for. A slimmed down Kirio was quick to pull him aside and reprimand him since he was supposed to be a professional here and not part of the problem. Rukia, Byakuya, Unohana, Nanao and Soi Fon all arrived together and split off in their own ways. With Rukia there, Ichigo was easier to hold back from his dad.
With some surprise, Uryu, Orihime and Chad arrived to see Ichigo. A few nasty looks were thrown Uryu's way but Ichigo made it clear he was a guest same as the others, whereas Orihime was treated like a queen, her work to save Toshiro's life an instant success with the families. Chad just stuck with Ichigo and Rukia to keep to himself, feeling awkward. Komamura had to be coaxed in by Rose, Hachi and Love since he got quite anxious over what the royals would think of an animal like him in the palace, but his fellow Captain and friends stuck by his side to keep him comfortable. As Visoreds, they understood his worries and wanted to help. Hiyori came on her own looking very uncomfortable being there, forced to hold her temper and therefore making her a bit irritable to be around.
Last to arrive were Kadin, Rangiku, Momo and Karin, the two girls either fixing up the last of Karin's hair or trying to support her with kind words while Kadin just looked like an involuntary chaperone. They had decided to curl a bit of Karin's hair around her face after all while the rest went up in a loose bun with a golden hair pin, only a small bit of make-up on her face compared to the other two, the look on her face suggesting even that was a success.
All Toshiro knew was he couldn't look away from her.