Chapter Twentyfour: Family Reunion

Rukia looked over the yellow garments decorated with bunnies. She'd been wearing them for weeks and it only just now occured to her how strange things were. 'What do you think the likelihood was that your sisters pajamas would match mine perfectly? Ichigo?'

Ichigo didn't answer. His eyes were on his homework but his pen was not in his hand. Somethinf was wrong. 'What is it Ichigo?'

'Nothing.' he rubbed his eyes 'I've got a family reunion to get to tomorrow.'

'Family reunion?' asked Rukia.

'Yeah, on my mothers side.' said Ichigo 'We meet up together at a graveyard to lament the loss of a number of other family members. I don't know, no one tells me anything. Either way I'm going to have to take the day off.'

'Ichigo you can't take a day off. You're a soul reaper.' said Rukia 'This isn't a part time job you can take vacation days from.'

'Oh I disagree.' said Ichigo 'I never signed anything. I'm not getting paid and it isn't as though you gave me these powers. I'm going to this.'

'…Right.' said Rukia. It wasn't like she was in a position to argue.

The next day the Kurosaki family made their way up a hill along a concrete path. On either side were brick walls. Isshin was, as always, making a fool of himself. 'Yuzu, Karin, hurry up, we're nearly at the barbeque! Just a few more miles and there will be hambergers and hotdogs.'

'Remind me why we hold family reunions in the area around a graveyard.' said Karin.

'It does seem a bit of a downer as far as locations go.' said Yuzu.

'Kind of like Dad's attempts at cheering us up.' said Ichigo.

'Oh my beloved wife, my children are being so cruel to me.' said Isshin.

'Trying to make less of a fool of yourself might help, dear.' said Masaki. 'A word, Ichigo.'

They fell back as the others marched on. Ichigo looked to Masaki. 'What is it Mom?'

'Ichigo I haven't seen you frown like that in weeks.' said Masaki.

'What do you mean?' asked Ichigo.

'You've seemed a lot happier lately.' said Mom 'Did you find yourself a girlfriend?'

Ichigo froze up. 'No, nothing like that.' He managed.

'Well fine.' said Masaki with a knowing smile. 'But if there is anything you want to tell me I'm here.'

'Ichigo!' said a very familiar voice.

Looking up in horror Ichigo saw Rukia. She was dressed in a white and blue dress and wazing with that fake cheery girl attitude on her.

''You were saying Ichigo?' said Mom.

'Ugh, that's no one. A wandering idiot from my class.' said Ichigo 'I'm going to go talk with her now.' He rushed past Dad and the girls and reached Rukia. He grabbed her by the hand. 'Rukia come on.'

Dragging her into the woods he looked at her. 'What are you doing here?'

Rukia shrugged. 'I'm here in case a hollow arrives. I brought Kon.'

'That isn't going to happen.' said Ichigo.

'Graveyards are a common place for hollows to appear.' said Rukia 'Especially with a lot of spiritual pressures like these around.'

'…Fine.' said Ichigo 'Fine you can do whatever you want. But only if you introduce yourself to my mother as my girlfriend.'

'What?!' said Rukia.

'Look that's what she thinks you are anyway and sooner or later she's going to catch you in my room.' said Ichigo 'So we may as well give you an alibi.'

'But that would be incredibly inappropriate.' said Rukia 'I'm a Kuchiki, one of the four great noble houses.'

'Not here you're not.' said Ichigo 'And I need you to have a good reason to hang out around me.'

'Alright,' said Rukia 'but I'm not actually your-'

'Yeah fine, great.' said Ichigo, before glancing up. 'What do you want Uryu.'

Into the clearing walked a boy. He was clad in a black suit and wore his hair long and blue. Over his eyes were a pair of square glasses which he was fingering. 'Hanging around with soul reapers Kurosaki?'

'Okay you know about that?' asked Ichigo.

'Unlike you I haven't spent my life wandering around blind.' said Uryu.

'This coming from the guy with glasses?' asked Ichigo.

'Who is this?' said Rukia.

'Nobody, just a super OCD glasses wearing nerd who is also my cousin.' said Ichigo.

'I am not a nerd! Just because I like sewing and prefer to keep things in order doesn't make me eccentric!' said Uryu 'I'd like to see you stitch fashionable outfits from scratch!'

'I rest my case.' said Ichigo.

Uryu straightened himself. '…I didn't come out this way to be insulted by you Kurosaki.'

'Well then why did you come out here?' asked Ichigo.

'I've sensed a presence.' said Uryu 'Something like a hollows, but not quite like a hollows. Ryuken intends to ignore it but-'

'Okay how do you know all this?' asked Ichigo.

'We are both Quincy.' said Uryu 'Of an ancient and noble bloodline nearly wiped out by the soul reapers!'

'Quincy?' asked Ichigo.

'You…' said Rukia 'I remember you. You're the grandson of Soken Ishida. From the hospital.'

'I remember you as well.' said Uryu. 'I also remember the soul reapers doing nothing while my grandfather was cut down by hollows.'

'Wait so he's actually telling the truth?' asked Ichigo.

'Yes.' said Rukia 'Quincies are an endangered race of humans originating from germany. There was a great war and most of them died out. They are very rare these days.'

'Why haven't I heard about any of this?' asked Ichigo.

'Because your mother shelters you and your father is a halfwit.' said Uryu 'I assume you haven't manifested any powers by now because of his genes.'

Ichigo reflected that this was probably true. He supposed he'd talk to Mom about it later. '…Fair point. So this half hollow? Where is it?'

'I was just trying to track it down. However it is quite elusive.' said Uryu 'Unlike some soul reapers in the area.'

'Hey, she lost her powers.' said Ichigo 'Give her a break.'

'I wasn't talking to her.' said Uryu, before glaring at the bushes.

Out of them stepped a man, clad in black robes like those Rukia had worn. He wore a straw hat and wore a long sword at his side. He had a casual bearing. 'Well, I guess my cover is blown. Look at this. Two of the last quincy and the heir to the Kuchiki House all in the same glade? Nice too meet you.'

'You…' said Rukia 'you're from the stealth force.'

'Bingo.' said the man 'Right first guess. See word was that Rukia Kuchiki had dropped off the map. So I was sent down here to see what was up. So whose the kid?'

'Oh I'm her boyfriend.' said Ichigo matter of factly.

'You-' Rukia paused 'uh yes, that's it.'

'Wow, gone native have we?' asked the man.

'I didn't have a choice.' said Rukia 'My powers just faded on me. I lost them all before I could go back to the Soul Society.'

'Now that's kind of funny.' said the man 'Because when we looked, we saw that hollows were getting purified. Did you give this kid your powers?'

'No.' said Rukia.

'Then how did he get them?' asked the man.

'Okay, I'll tell you.' said Ichigo 'I got kidnapped by some jackass named Kisuke Urahara who forced me at swordpoint to become a Soul Reaper or become a hollow and then die. I escaped with some powers, broke off all association with him, and have been covering for Rukia in my spare time.'

The man bit his lip. '…Pretty good answer. So Kisuke Urahara is up to his old tricks is he? Central Forty Six won't let him off so easy this-' And then a hook swung down from the trees above and cut straight through the mans chest. He screamed in agony as he was dragged upward. The sound of tearing flesh and agony could be heard. Then his corpse fell downwards, a cord around his neck to hang. His eyes had been torn out and his body looked to have been gnawed on.

'Jesus Christ!' said Ichigo.

'The hollow.' said Uryu.

Then a bow of blue energy appeared in his hand. Drawing it back he fired a bolt of pure energy into the trees. Something move out of them and he fired another one. There was a cry of pain and something fell out of the trees to make a three point landing on the path. Yet it was almost human looking.

Rukia opened her bag as Uryu aimed his bow at the east. Yet there was silence.

'Who are you?' asked Ichigo.

'Ichido Yuujin.' said the girl 'I'm here to beat the ever loving crap out of you to prove to you how utterly powerless you truly are.'

'Kon get out here!' said Rukia.

Kon leaped out of the bushes. 'Ichigo I'm here.'

'Is that a stuffed animal?' asked Ichido.

Rukia snatched up Kon and before either could move forced the lion's mouth against Ichigo's. The pill went down his throat.

'Um… this is kind of awkward.' said Ichido. 'Do you want me to turn away or-'

'Shut up.' said Ichigo, before rushing at her with his sword.

Even as he came at her Ichido moved aside. And then into her hand came a spear and she brought it around to knock his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard and Ichido raised her spear and stabbed downward. Ichigo rolled aside and the spear was driven into the earth. He lashed out with his sword, but it was knocked aside and he was struck in the face. He hit the ground hard.

'On the ground again?' asked Yuujin 'Where's that smile?'

Lying there stunned he saw as Ichido turned toward Rukia and surged forward. Her spear was aimed at her heart and Ichigo couldn't move.

Suddenly Ichido was forced to draw back as a flurry of arrows shot past her.

'Your fight is with me, hollow.' said Uryu, bow in hand.

'Right, obviously.' said Ichido, 'Who… are you again?'

'I'm Uryu Ishida. Last of the Quincy. And your end.' said Uryu.

'I'll believe that when I see it.' said Ichido.

Then both disappeared. A moment later a flurry of blue shot across the clearing to blast several trees. Ichido appeared and Ichigo had a glimpse of Uryu ducking under a thrust from a spear.

'They are moving so fast.' he said 'But how?'

Kon hauled Rukia toward him and grabbed his hand. 'I don't know but we need to get out of here now. Come on.'

'We can't just run.' said Rukia.

'Kon's right. I just got utterly crushed twice. I'm not up for round three.' said Ichigo 'If Uryu bites it we'll just have to find some place to hide.'

So they ran through the trees as quick as they could. Behind them they heard the sounds of battle. Then suddenly they quieted.

Suddenly Ichido Yuujin appeared on a tree branch in front of them. She pointed her spear at Ichigo's throat. 'Running like always?'

'Shit.' said Ichigo. 'Let the others go. Your fight is with me.' What the hell was he doing? He was so dead?

'Eh, whatever.' said Ichido 'Tell you what. As long as you last I'll give them a head start.'

'Kon, Rukia,' said Ichigo 'split up and make a run for it. Quick.'

'But-' began Rukia.

'Now!' said Ichigo.

On they went. Ichigo stared down Ichido Yuujin, waiting. He'd wait ten seconds to give them a head start and then he'd make a break for it. Suddenly everything froze. And Ichigo saw the old man from before. 'You again? What the hell do you want?'

'I want you to stop running.' said the old man.

'Oh yeah because I'm sure I'll last more than twelve seconds in a straight up fight.' said Ichigo.

'You abandoned your cousin to fight alone.' said the old man 'Now he may well be dead.'

'And what exactly could I have done to stop him?' asked Ichigo 'I didn't see you offering me any brand new powerups.'

'I grant power when my wielder is ready. And you are not.' said the old ma.

'Then why the hell are you bothering me?!' roared Ichigo 'Let me get back to running!'

'You can't escape this enemy. That much is clear.' said Zangetsu 'Your only opportunity is to fight. Do you want Rukia to die?'

'No but-' began Ichigo.

'But if you run she will. Your only chance of escape is to abandon her.' said the old man 'You can run faster without her. If you want to save her you have to fight.'

'Alright, we'll do things your way.' said Ichigo.

And suddenly he delt power coursing through him. Down his arm and through his blade it went. And the old man arose to great up Ichigo! Rise up and wield my power to its fullest!'

Ichigo opened the eyes he did not know he had closed and unleashed his power. A wave of blue energy surged toward Ichido Yuujin who flinched and reacted a moment too late. Then she was consumed and a great trench had been delved in the earth.

Ichigo felt stronger than ever. Like he could take on a whole army and win. He shouldered his cleaver and smirked. 'Well that was easy I guess-'

'Cheap ass son of a bitch!' snarled Ichido Yuujin as she emerged. Her mask had been cracked and her white armor scorched, but she was still whole.

Shit. Act confident. 'Well I am giving out bargain bin asskickings.' said Ichigo.

Ichido surged forward and Ichigo could hardly react as he was driven back by a flurry of stabs. He felt her spear point slash his cheek Another lunge caught him in the shoulder and another in the leg. He fell to his knees. He slashed at Yuujin but his blow was warded off and his sword knocked from his hand.

'Sorry. I take quality over quantity.' said Ichido 'Points for effort though.' She stretched. 'You do realize that I've got months of practice right? I've survived in places you wouldn't last ten seconds. There is no substitute for experience-'

And then she ducked just in time to avoid having her head taken off. She turned and saw Uryu walking toward them. His left arm were a bloody bandage but he was still holding his bow. His shirt was torn and bloody and his side was dripping blood. Yuujin took a stance.

'You again?!' asked Ichido.

'You nearly got away from me there.' said Uryu with a smirk.

'Yeah, cause I wasn't running.' said Yuujin 'I'm out of here. I think I've made my point.'

She leaped onto the tree above.

'You're not getting away!' roared Uryu, firing and arrow.

But Yuujin knocked it aside and roared. It was like the sound of a mountain sized dragon which had been sleeping below the earth for ten thousand years. Now it had awakened in terrible fury and Ichigo clutched his ears and screamed. He felt blood coming from the. 'My ears…' he gasped.

Looking up he saw Uryu doing likewise. And Yuujin was gone. Why hadn't she just killed Uryu while he was distracted?

'A stunning effect.' asked Uryu 'Where did she go?'

'I don't know.' admitted Ichigo 'But I think you need a hospital.'

Uryu looked to his injuries. 'Excellent point Kurosaki.'

And then he collapsed.

Authors Note:

Two fanfic updates in one day? Pretty good.

Anyway so this is the first fight between Ichido Yuujin and Ichigo. Classic rival stuff. But what is this? Ichigo's family didn't bring him up in complete ignorance of his family? It's almost as if he has a parent who shouldn't be in prison.