Chapter Twenty-four: Alienation

Orihime lay in her bed in her underwear, thinking. Ichigo had been much happier ever since he met Rukia. How Orihime wished she could make him feel that way about her. But they had been doing things together, secret things.

There was a knock at the door.

Oh, maybe it was a goblin ninja. Or a pink elephant. Or maybe some kind of huge sumo wrestler come to kidnap her. But Orihime would escape out the window and get on a boat before flying away into the sunset.

The knock came again.

Orihime quickly got dressed. She had a bit of trouble getting her pink shirt over her large breasts. Her blue jeans fit snugly around her hip. She opened the door to her room and made her way to the door, tripping and hitting her head in the process.

Eventually, she reached it and opened it. Tatsuki was behind it. The spiky dark-haired girl was clad in a black shirt and pants which clung to her ample frame. She looked really pretty, although it was in more of a tomboy style. She was the tomboy to Orihime's girly girl. Though what did that make Rukia? Maybe the mysterious waif who-

'Hey Orihime, sorry I'm late. I had a meeting with a friend to get to.' said Tasuki.

'Oh no problem Tatsuki.' said Orihime 'Come on in.'

Tatsuki had been different to of late. Orihime couldn't exactly say how. She seemed to have many friends Orihime hadn't met and never saw. Either way, they sat down and opened some sodas. Orihime poured herself a glass of coffee and poured some mountain dew into it. Tatsuki just stuck with the mountain dew. She was a bit eccentric like that.

'So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?' asked Tatsuki.

'Well, it's just I think Ichigo might be some kind of superhero.' Said Orihime.

'Really?' Said Tatsuki, sounding amused. 'No kidding. What makes you say that?'

'Well I've seen him running out of the school clad all in black.' said Orihime' Also I saw him fighting this monster once.'

'Really?' Tatsuki smiled. 'Let me tell you something, the first time I saw your superhero he was this little orange haired kid at my karate dojo. I was really annoyed by his smiles and the first thing I did when we got down on the mat was knock him down.

'He started crying. Then he looked up and saw his mother and that smile came right back onto his face.'

'Why doesn't Kurosaki-kun smile like that anymore?' asked Orihime.

'He got bullied a lot in high school.' Said Tatsuki.

Bullied? Orihime remembered being bullied. Back before Tatsuki had taken to protecting her. It had been horrible. 'But you always protected me. Why couldn't you protect him?'

'Because he's a guy, Orihime.' Said Tatsuki. 'Ichigo has to look out for himself or everyone would get on his case for being protected by a girl. It would be even worse for him.' She looked out the window. Suddenly her eyes were glancing wildly around, and she seemed very distant.

'Tatsuki is something wrong?' Asked Orihime.

'…Nothing, I've been doing some afterschool training.' Said Tatsuki. 'It gets to me sometimes.'

Masaki was there for the reunion. It was much smaller and grimmer. Than it had been years ago. In those days there had been far more quincies. Now most of them were dead. The disappearances had stopped. But there were only a few of them left now.

Masaki spoke quickly with several of them. Isshin had taken Karin and Yuzu away to her Father's grave. It turned out that there had been no disappearances this year. The soul reapers had been very active. So at least they weren't on the verge of extinction.

Ryuken was leaning against a tree smoking. The white-haired doctor looked up as Masaki approached. 'Masaki.'

'Ryuken.' Said Masaki. 'Ryuken, where is Uryu? I thought he'd be here.'

'The boy is out hunting.' Said Ryuken.

Ah. Ryuken had abandoned his status as a quincy years ago. Uryu had never agreed with him and the two had always been distant. 'So I take it you haven't been able to patch things up then.'

Ryuken didn't answer at first. 'Uryu is old enough to make his own decisions. If he wants to waste his life, that's his business.'

'He's fifteen.' Said Masaki. 'His business is your business.'

'Mom, dad!' came a call.

Masaki looked up. Ichigo rushed up to them but not in his body. He wore the garb of a soul reaper, and he was holding Uryu in his arms. The blue haired boy was bleeding heavily. 'Ichigo what happened?'

'Nothing you need to know about Mom.' Snapped Ichigo as he set down Uryu. 'Uryu needs medical attention.'

'Step aside. I'll handle this.' Said Ryuken, kneeling by Ichigo. 'The idiot.' He drew out a first aid kit and began tending to the wounds. Ichigo stood and looked at her with narrowed eyes.

'Ichigo what happened to him?' asked Masaki.

Ichigo said nothing.

'Ichigo!' Cried Rukia as she rushed up.

'Hey Rukia, get over here and use your healing kido.' said Ichigo 'Uryu is hurt.'

'Right.' Said Rukia, moving to where Ryuken was bandaging the cuts. Ryuken wordlessly stood and let her begin.

Ichigo looked at Masaki with that same angry glare. 'Well? I'm listening.'

'Listening for what?' Asked Masaki. She really didn't want to have this conversation.

'Why didn't you tell me about all this?' asked Ichigo.

Because Urahara wanted to turn him into a weapon. The answer came to Masaki suddenly. 'Because I don't have my powers anymore, Ichigo. I lost them. And there was no need to scare you. There wasn't anything you could have done about it.

'If it weren't for Rukia you would have gotten killed.'

Ichigo looked to Rukia. 'You knew they knew?'

'Not exactly.' Admitted Rukia. 'I met the Ishida family with my brother some years ago. When I saved you and your mother.'

'Yes. I don't believe I ever thanked you for that.' said Masaki, glad for a change in subject.

'Wait you recognize me?' Asked Rukia.

'Of course. My memories returned very quickly.' said Masaki 'I only pretended to be effected before.'

'Then why didn't you say anything?' Asked Rukia.

'I don't trust the Soul Society.' Said Masaki. 'Why would I? Besides-' Ryuken had turned and was walking away. 'Ryuken where are you going?'

'To have words with Urahara.' Said Ryuken. 'I'm certain this is somehow his fault.'

'Your place is with your son.' Said Masaki.

'He is unconscious. My presence is irrelevant.' Said Ryuken. 'Besides, someone has to make the call.'

'Where the hell is dad anyway?' Asked Ichigo.

'He was taking the girls up to grandpa's tomb.' said Masaki.

Sure enough here came Isshin. He approached her and saw Ichigo. 'Masaki what happened?'

'Uryu got hurt.' Said Masaki. 'Ichigo hasn't given us the details.'

Ichigo looked to Isshin, then to Masaki. There was a wordless question.

'He knows Ichigo.' Said Masaki. 'You can tell him.'

'…He fell.' said Ichigo.

'Ichigo this is important.' said Masaki.

'Kind of like the existence of spirits.' said Ichigo. 'He. Fell. If you want another story ask someone else.' And he stalked off.

Isshin looked furious and walked after him. But Masaki caught him by the shoulder. 'Don't go after him, Isshin. He needs to be alone.'

'He needs to get that stupid look off his face!' said Isshin 'He refused training and as a result Uryu nearly got killed! And now instead of taking responsibility, he's gone off to mope!'

Masaki slapped him. Isshin flinched. 'Isshin a word to one side.'

They walked away from Rukia. Then Masaki fixed him with a glare. 'You are not going after Ichigo, Isshin.'

'But-' began Isshin.

Years of frustration flowed out. 'Isshin, do you know why your son wants nothing to do with you? There are many reasons and one of them is that whenever he tries to get close you reject him.'

'That isn't true.' said Isshin.

'"Assume the fetal position and stay out of the way."' Quoted Masaki. 'That was what you said, isn't it?'

'I had dozens of injured people, Masaki.' said Isshin 'That was one time.'

'It wasn't just that one time, Isshin.' Said Masaki. 'You treat him like a third wheel. Because I won't let you treat him like a weapon.'

'I don't-' began Isshin.

'Ordinary parents do not hit their children to make them stronger!' Snapped Masaki. 'You and Urahara decided that Ichigo would one day have to become like you! So you started trying to force the issue! And when I stopped you, you hedged him out!

'Did it ever occur to you that Ichigo might not want to be a soul reaper, Isshin? That maybe he'd want to be an athlete? Or a scientist? He isn't like you.'

'And you don't have the right to force him to become a miniature version of yourself.'

'You know that this is bigger than just us, Masaki.' Said Isshin. 'If Aizen isn't stopped-'

'Get over yourself.' Said Masaki. 'At worst, we'll trade one totalitarian monster for another.

No one cares if the Soul Society switches rulers. Aizen's not going to destroy the world he wants to rule. Everything I have on him comes from you and Urahara. You barely knew the man. And Urahara is a coldblooded sociopath. I know that from firsthand experience.'

'Urahara is a little rough around the edges.' said Isshin 'But he-'

'He tried to kill my son!' Roared Masaki. 'He lured him into a basement with promises of making him strong. Then he forced him into a life or death situation with neither his knowledge or consent!

'If you care so much about Ichigo's future then why is it you are never honest with him?'

'Masaki you know there are laws-' began Isshin.

'Laws you already broke to save me.' said Masaki. 'Ichigo found out a couple of months ago that there was a world of spirits and monsters just below the surface. And now he's found out that we knew all along. We've been keeping secrets from him his entire life. Hell, if Urahara and Ryuken had had their way he would have never even have known he had a cousin.

'His reaction is perfectly reasonable. Leave. Him. Alone.'

Isshin faltered. '…Fine. Fine, I'm sorry.'

Sorry wasn't enough. But it was a start.

Well everyone had been lying to him his entire life. That was pretty typical. Ichigo made his way down the hill, hands in his pockets and eyes on the sky. Stormclouds were gathering. It looked like rain. Also, Ichido Yuujin was still out there.

She had crushed him. Easily. Uryu was a lot stronger than him, and he'd been defeated too. She could come back at any time.

Kisuke Urahara was the only person Ichigo knew who could train him. Ichigo wondered what Isshin's connection to all this was. Then he remembered he didn't care.

Mom was the last person Ichigo expected would be lying to him, in any case.

As he walked, he saw Kon. The mod soul was sitting his body on a bench, hands clasped together. He looked up as Ichigo approached.

'Hey Kon.' said Ichigo.

'Ichigo, are you all right?' asked Kon.

'Not really.' admitted Ichigo 'What happened with you?'

'Nothing.' said Kon 'No sign of anything. Who was that maniac?'

'No idea.' admitted Ichigo 'I've got to get back into my body.'

'All right.' said Kon.

Reaching up, Kon coughed, and his pill emerged onto his hand. The life faded from the eyes of Ichigo's body. Strange. Ichigo merged into it and arose, picking up Kon and pocketing him.

At that moment Rukia came down the hill. 'Ichigo!'

'Rukia, is Uryu okay?' asked Ichigo.

'He's fine. I just finished healing him.' Said Rukia. 'Where are you going?'

Ichigo sighed and started walking. 'To get training from Urahara.'

'Are you sure?' asked Rukia.

'That Ichido Yuujin chick is way stronger than I am.' said Ichigo 'If she comes back I won't be able to stop her like this. I've got to get training while I have the chance. Unless you have some Soul Reaper friends, you can call down?'

Rukia remained silent for a long time. '…No. I haven't been able to contact the soul society. However, they'll send someone eventually now that a member of the stealth force is dead.'

'I can't wait any longer.' Said Ichigo. 'Ichido could come after us any day.'

'…All right.' Said Rukia. 'As long as you're sure about this.'

They took the bus through Karakura Town and arrived at Urahara shop. They found Urahara waiting by the door. His fan was in front of his face, and his hat was drawn down. 'Well, well, Kurosaki. What brings you to my humble abode?'

'Please train me.' said Ichigo.

'I thought you weren't interested.' said Urahara.

'My friends weren't in danger at the time.' said Ichigo.

Urahara shut the fan. '…Fair enough. However, I'll warn you ahead of time I won't be going easy on you. My training will get you powerful quickly. It'll be dangerous, and you could get hurt. We can tend most injuries, but in a worst case scenario, you could die.

'Do you understand this?'

'Yeah,' said Ichigo, 'Yeah I get it.'

'Good.' Said Urahara. 'Let's go downstairs, and we'll get started.'

Even so, Ichigo entered in after him. They walked into the back room, and Ichigo found some boxes lying around. He halted by one and kneeled by it. 'What is in these?'

'Oh nothing much.' said Urahara 'Just some gigais I'm shipping out to some of my other stores. You won't be needing those since you have your body.'

'So you make these?' asked Ichigo.

'Pretty much.' Said Urahara. 'The Soul Society lets me keep operating as long as I keep their agents supplied in the field. I've got other posts in other cities to which I relay supplies.'

'So why Karakura town?' asked Ichigo. 'Why have your base here and not in Tokyo or New York.'

'Well, New York it tended to by an entirely different faction of the Soul Society.' Said Urahara. 'My influence only extends to Japan. As for Tokyo, Ms. Kuchiki could tell you about that.'

Rukia coughed. 'Karakura Town is situated on a nexus of spiritual energy. A lot more of the people in this region are spiritually sensitive. Which means hollows show up here a lot more than in other places.

'That's why someone as powerful as Ms. Kuchiki was sent here. Higher level hollows flock to this location. It's also why I wanted to train you. Though I may have gotten a bit carried away.'

'A bit.' Said Ichigo.

'We should get moving.' Said Urahara. 'The sooner we get training, the better.'

They went back into that underground wasteland. Ichigo swallowed Kon and appeared in his soul reaper form. Urahara, for his part, transformed his cane into a sword. 'Now then,' said Urahara 'why don't we get started with the basics.'

This was going to suck.

Authors Note:

Okay, so Ichigo is finally training with Urahara. Much earlier than in canon I might all.

So I think I've finally found a niche for Masaki's character. She's the person who calls Isshin and Ryuken on their abusive tendencies. Serious I don't get the fanbase for Isshin. He was kind of funny at one point, but I found him to be a really dull character. He doesn't have an arc. And he quite deliberately allowed Ichigo to get the shit kicked out of him by Grimmjow. Twice.

Worse still, nobody ever calls him on it.