Chapter 10
Two weeks later
He gave a large sigh and rested his head in his hands. Here he was sitting in his office with mountains of paperwork around him, and he couldn't get any of it done. There was this hell butterfly on his desk from Yamamoto. What that was contained did not help how he was feeling. It made it worse. Something felt off today. Like something bad was going to happen. That was the feeling he was getting. Apparently some of his staff noticed also, because they were on edge since early this morning. The staff were jumpy. Guards would glance nervously around, and made more patrols around the house then usual. There was nothing he could do though. Nothing had happened yet.
He gave another sigh and tugged at his sticky yukata. It was nearing the end of summer, but it was the hottest time of the year. He's surprised he hasn't melted yet. How Ichigo can stand wearing the yukata, and a haori, he couldn't ever know the real reason. His guess was that Ichigo was self conscious about all of his scars, but that didn't fit with his personality.
He was calm, quiet, and gentle on the outside, but he could also see the dark and broken side of the boy. The side shrouded in secrets and pain. His grandmother had spent everyday with the boy, forcing him to play and hold Kameko. Ichigo was both sent by Kami-sama and the Devil. Whenever Kameko was with him she was just the sweetest child in the Seireitei, but when Ichigo was gone, she was a yokai. Nothing made her happy. She would throw fits and bawl until Ichigo came back.
He tried to be around them as much as he could to make sure nothing happened. Considering that Ran would be having a child, this is good practice for when Ran wouldn't have time to take care of Kameko. But that was only if Ichigo stayed after the clan gathering that is coming up in a little over a month. He doesn't know how he would deal with Kameko if Ichigo left for good.
The clan gatherings are great and all, but this gives the elders time to plan devious things to discuss at the meeting. These gatherings happen twice a year, but he has heard talk of it becoming four times a year. That is not something that he would like to see happen. He sees the other noble houses more than enough at his job. And he certainly doesn't want to see more of the terrible clan leaders more than he has to. Especially Ryodoji.
That evil snake has his fingers in way to many sweet jars. Personally he would like to chop off those fingers with Shirosai, but he can't do anything unless Ryodoji is caught breaking the law. What had happened at the festival has made him warier of the man. He was up to something and it wasn't good.
Getting up from his paper strewn desk, he padded across the wooden floors. His bare feet sticking to the varnish. Now would be a good time to take a bath in the hot springs.
He sighed and leaned against the ceramic tiles. Akihiko had allowed him to use the families enclosed hot springs that sat at the base of a mountain near the edge of the Shiba estate. He's used it everyday to relieve some of the stress of being around the crazy Shibas. Akihiko's been the worst, he was constantly hovering when he was around and had staff watching when he wasn't. It was infuriating. He could never get any time to think by himself.
It's supposedly been two weeks since he had woken up at the Shiba estate. Almost three if the five days he was unconscious counted. His wounds have all but healed. The healers, Tadashi, Akihiko and Chiyo have ranted at him to eat more, because he was to thin. It's not like he could eat that much anyways. It was all because of that time, food has been something to avoid. Sure he would eat some to appease them, but not as much as they would seem to like. The Shibas had been nothing but kind to him, of course they are stubborn also. He's forced to help look after Kameko everyday because Ran is pregnant. He is fine with it mostly, but being with Kameko forces him to remember Orihime's daughter when she was born. That day was burned into his mind, and he would never forget it. It was one of happiest memories he had.
Running a wet hand through his hair, he absentmindedly checked that Zangetsu was within reach. He was always within reach, especially when he tries to relax. Letting the steam fill his lungs he inhaled and exhaled deeply as he faced the very emotional memory. He needed to start facing them to move forward. That was the only way for him to keep from what happened into reality. Zangetsu and Shiro were with him as constant comforting presences as he dove into his memories.
Rain had begun to lighten after storming all through the night. Many of the fighters were severely wounded after fighting with the Quinces. Hat'n'Clogs was nowhere to be seen. He knew that this war could not go on much longer, the end of the eighth year was approaching and both sides have taken heavy damage. The Quinces at a third of their original strength, and the Shinigami at a quarter of theirs. Now there was a lull in all of the fighting. It was a quiet night so far. He hoped that it would be one of those rare peace treaty nights, where everyone would retreat to lick their wounds.
He was guarding one of the entrances of their hideout, when a scream filled the air. It was Orihime's. Nightmares from that time surfaced. Her dying and clutching her bleeding belly. The child dying with her. He dashed straight to the source of the scream. Nearly ripping the door off of it's hinges, he stopped short from impaling the first figure he saw. Lying on the bed was a nine month pregnant Orihime. Sweat condensed on her brow, plastering her chestnut hair in clumps. Uryu stood at her side holding her hand. His hair and clothes were slightly askew from being woken abruptly. Hanataro was in full scrubs ready at anytime to deliver the baby. All three of them were staring at him. Uryu then stupidly smirked and pushed up his glasses.
"Are you that worried Ichigo? She's only going into labor." He unleashed the breath he didn't know he was holding and sagged against the door frame in relief. He got scared for nothing. Sagging farther in relief, he slid to the floor blocking the entryway.
"S-sorry Ichigo. I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay Orihime. Do you mind if I stay? I'll stand guard." This time Uryu gave a genuine smile. He knew what had happened during that time. He was the only one who knew. They considered each other brothers. Distantly related or not.
"Thank you Ichigo. This means a lot to me for you to be here." He smirked at his Quincy friend. Resting Zangetsu against his lap, he closed his eyes and stretched out his senses to notice anyone approaching. After 8 intense hours of labor, Orihime delivered her baby girl. The child's reiatsu was the embodiment of innocence. So calm and new to this war torn world.
"Ichigo come meet your godchild and niece." He opened his eyes to see Uryu sitting beside Orihime who held a bundle in her arms. Both of them were happily smiling down at their daughter. Hanataro was in the far corner removing his scrubs and washing his tools. Sheathing Zangetsu, he slowly approached the happy couple. Seeing the child's face was like a punch in the gut, sucking out all of the oxygen from his lungs Then there was a pressing weight on his shoulders. It was as if all of their problems were being placed on him. She was beautiful and yet she was born during a war. Uryu and Orihime couldn't stay here anymore. They needed to flee and raise their daughter. They needed to leave him behind. He tried to breathe. He couldn't. Grasping his chest, he struggled to suck in oxygen. Orihime and Uryu continued to coo at their daughter as if nothing was wrong. Something was terribly wrong though. It shouldn't happen like this. He should be able to smile and congratulate them, but he couldn't. They were gone. All of them.
Black spots swam infant of his eyes. Everything then burst like bubbles.
He closed his eyes, and snapped them open.
He couldn't see anything. His lungs were burning. He was drowning. Struggling against the hands that were holding him down, he managed to snatch the back of the assailants gear. Using his fading strength, he flung them from the edge to the far side of the hot spring. Breaking the surface of the water, he choked and gasped, trying to pull himself over the edge in his panic. He slid on the water slick tiles, struggling to maintain his grip. Memories from when this happened before increased his panic. He needed Zangetsu. His only lifeline.
He finally pulled himself over the edge, hands searching frantically for his blade. He found it near the wall of the hot spring. The attacker must have kicked Zangetsu away from him so he couldn't fight back. Snatching it from the floor, he put his back to the wall with his feet drawn up, listening for any sound from the attacker. If they really wanted to kill him then they would try again.
Water splashed not five feet away from him. He flinched and reflexively brought up his sword. Someone gave a gurgling sound, and a weight rested on his sword. They had impaled themselves on Zangetsu. Whether on purpose or as an accident he didn't know. His wet body chilled, and began to shiver. The towel around his waist did little to offer warmth.
He wasn't going anywhere near the water. He wasn't going to get rid of the body on his blade. Those memories were all he could focus on, and that was not thinking about them. None of that mattered.
It was no use. They were swallowing him like a black hole. He couldn't escape or rely on Zangetsu.
He just didn't want to go back there. He didn't want too. They can't take him this time, he wouldn't let them. Not to that place. He would die before going back there.
He had decided that he would soak in the hot springs today. Yamamoto had sent a hell butterfly about making an official shinigami military base, wanting to call it the Gotei 13. His captain title was nothing but a figurehead, so officializing it would change many things. He also talked about bringing order. Right now there is no order in most of Rukongai. There is a lot of work to be done.
He sighed and moved along the path to the hot springs.
It was so beautiful. The tress full of jade green leaves. Songs from songbirds filling the air. The crunch of gravel underneath his sandal clad feet. The smell of flowers. It was all very relaxing on his way to the hot springs.
Making it there in very little time, he grabbed the door to the bath house and entered the springs. He opened the door expecting for there to be no one there. He took a startled step back at the scene before him. He sent a flare of reiatsu to alert the guards and his assistant.
There was Ichigo, pressed against the tiled wall, soaking wet and shaking like a leaf. He was holding his black blade stretched out in front of him. Someone was hanging off of the edge of the blade. Dead. The dead man was clad in all black, a white cloth that covered the bottom half of the man's face was stained with red.
Pure terror chilled his insides. On the dead man's shoulder was a noble crest. The crest belonging to the Ryodoji clan. He cautiously moved forward. He grabbed the dead man's shoulders and pulled him from Ichigo's blade. Blood sluggishly flowed from the wound. He laid the body on the tiles. Keeping his hand on the black blade, he inched closer to the orange haired boy.
Ichigo's breath was coming out in hitched gasps as he struggled to breathe. He was in a panic, and he was starting to panic himself. He had never seen Ichigo this way. Pulling off his haori, he draped it over Ichigo's scarred quivering form. He gently pried the blade from his hands while speaking reassuring words to him.
Ichigo didn't seem to hear him. His blind eyes were open wide and more glazed over then they normally were. Ichigo was muttering indiscernible things under his breath. He was totally unaware of his surroundings. Ichigo was stuck somewhere that he couldn't go.
"Akihiko-sama!" Sora was shouting as he came crashing through the door with the guards on his heels. All of them stopped for a second to take in the scene. Sora then rushed over to him. "Akihiko-sama are you alright?"
"I'm fine Sora. It's not me that you need to be worried about." He turned to looked at the body. "Send that body to the healers. Have them cremate the body using a fire kido. after doing a full examination. I want the report on my desk." Sora gave a nod and moved to order the guards.
Tadashi then came dashing through the doors and straight towards Ichigo. He kneeled beside the dazed shivering boy. Tadashi gave him a pained look before looking back at Ichigo. He pulled the boy up onto his feet and supported him gently with his arms.
"Come on Ichigo-sama, lets take you back to the house. I can draw you a nice warm bath there." Ichigo began struggling and pulling away from Tadashi. He had fear painted on his face.
"No! No water. No water."
"Of course Ichigo-sama. I won't draw a bath for you, but please let me get you back to the house. We can get you some clean dry clothing." Ichigo stopped struggling and allowed Tadashi to take him to the house. Ichigo had regressed to the dark place he was before. He handed the black blade to Tadashi before he slipped away with Ichigo. His lean frame was buried by the sheer volume of the haori. He turned to a few of the guards standing there.
"Go watch over them. Make sure that Ichigo is guarded the entire time." The guards gave nods and dashed off after the two. He sighed and turned towards the body. It was being loaded onto a stretcher. Sora came up to him.
"What happened Akihiko-sama?" He shook his head. Honestly he didn't know.
"I don't know Sora. From what I can see, Ichigo was attacked and he reacted reflexively, killing the attacker in the process. Although I don't know why he doesn't want to go near water." Sora stared at the hot springs pool.
"What if the man tried to drown Ichigo, but Ichigo managed to fight back and kill him?" He crossed his arms over his chest. What Sora said was a possibility.
"That is pretty reasonable, but we can't say for sure until Ichigo tells us what really happens."
"Why was Ichigo the only one attacked?" He knew why. It was because of Ryodoji. Officially Ichigo is not apart of the Shiba clan, so there is nothing he could do to Ryodoji. He gritted his teeth. Ryodoji was declaring war. If he wanted war then he was going to get it, just not in the way he expects it.
"He may have been the only one attacked right now, but that doesn't mean that others won't be attacked in the future. Sora, I want you to check all of the guards and staff to make sure that we don't have an assassin amongst us. This is not over." He then shunpoed back to the house.
Wanting to check up on how Ichigo was doing, he quietly slipped into the boy's room.
There sitting on the floor was Ichigo. Beside him was his black blade. He was wearing a frost blue winter yukata with a white haori slung across his shoulders. He was clutching to the haori like a life line. Tadashi was attempting to get Ichigo to drink some hot tea. He just moved his head away from Tadashi, refusing the tea. He only sightlessly gazed distantly at the floor.
Tadashi grew angry and gave up. He clonked the tea cup on the tray and stood up.
"Fine, if you don't want to drink then there is no need for me to be here." Ichigo sat there silently, staring at the floor. Tadashi huffed and marched past him out the door. He stood there watching as Ichigo gently picked up his blade, and clutched it tightly to his chest. His face scrunched up in terror, and he curled himself around the blade.
"They won't go away." Ichigo said in a daze. He blinked at the boy. His curiosity got the better of him and he edged closer so he could sit face to face with Ichigo.
"What won't go away?"
"You should know, Zangetsu! The memories." Ichigo snapped at him. He clutched the blade even closer, not even cutting himself on the blade. "The memories from that place." He wanted to know more. He knew this was wrong, but Ichigo thought he was whoever this Zangetsu person was. He was clearly in distress, and had begun to hallucinate.
"What was that place, Ichigo?" Ichigo began to shiver uncontrollably.
"A place worse than Hell, and you know I've been to the real Hell, Zangetsu." His blood ran cold. What Ichigo said brought more questions then answers, and a sliver of doubt grew in his mind. Why had Ichigo been in Hell? Was he a criminal that killed thousands? Just where was this boy before he came here? He needed more answers.
"Yes, and why were you in Hell Ichigo?" Ichigo scowled.
"Have you forgotten everything Zangetsu? I was there to save my little sister. She was kidnapped by one of the convicts from Hell. He was using me to try and escape."
"Yes, and now tell me why you were in that place that is worse then Hell?" A look of despair flashed across Ichigo's face.
"Don't make me say it, Zangetsu, don't make me say it." Ichigo begged him, and seemed to shrink even further into himself. He continued to beg him to not say it. Whatever it was was still very painful to talk about. He knew that was about as much as he would get from the boy. His heart clenched in helplessness, sorrow and so many other emotions he couldn't describe. He sighed, and petted the boys orange locks attempting to calm him.
"It's okay Ichigo. You're not there anymore. You're safe. I'll protect you, I promise."
A shout out to:
hornet07: First, thank you for letting us know what you thought was disconcerting for you. As for specific ages for the children to help clarify things for you is that Hikaru is the oldest, followed by Katsumi, Akemi, and finally Shizuka. Hikaru and Katsumi are both twelve years old in appearance and mentality. Akemi is ten years old and Shizuka is nine. We hope that you don't become to wary of all of the bleach fanfic out there. Do not worry we will keep going. Please enjoy this next chapter and let us know what you think.
lostanddistracted: Thank you for letting us know what you think. We are happy that you have been looking forward to our updates and have good thoughts for our story so far. Ryodoji will become a major character later on in the story. So he is someone that you will need to watch out for at the gathering of the nobles. It will be a very action filled night for everyone there. Thank you for encouraging us. We hope you enjoy this next chapter and let us know what you think.
Ongaku: That is some very colorful language Ongaku, but thank you anyways. That reply made many of us laugh and quite happy. Keep an rye out for both Ryodoji and Michio because they will both appear more in the story. We wanted Ichigo to stick to his roots. Besides back then Shakespeare hadn't even been born yet, so none of them would know the stories, and we thought that maybe if one of them were to be reincarnated that they would turn out to be Shakespeare. Who knows. Thank you for enjoying this story. Here the next chapter for you to enjoy. Let us know what you think.
amazinglion27: Yes, Ryodoji is as you stated 'a self-proclaimed snot head', and that will come back to bite him in the ass later. Some of us have always wished that they sold cans of common sense, boxes of logic and bags of reality at convince stores. Hopefully that day will arrive soon. And hopefully you don't need to recite your poem for this chapter because things have escalated to a whole new level. Let us know if this was a fabulous update or not, and thank you for encouraging us even more.
SunshineWitch91: Thank you for falling in love with this story. We have tried to add more descriptions to make things more easier for you. Hopefully they just won't be talking heads anymore. Let us know if we did good.
Himitsu Rei: We're sorry for not replying to any of your other replies. They don't show up in our shared email. And thank you for enjoying our story so much. But to answer your question about writing our chapters. What we do is a sort of a basic outline for a lot of chapters ahead of time, then we all talk each week to refine and add detail to the chapter for that week. Many of us are still in school so we have to plan ahead so we don't get behind on any of our updates. We also have a goal of always surpassing the two thousand word mark for each chapter, and a specific deadline each week to keep us motivated to write our chapters. We hope that helps answer your question.
innocent91: Thank you for enjoying this story. We hope that you like this chapter as well.
Thank you to all of our readers for everything. For commenting encouragements, dislikes, suggestions and questions or just reading every week. Thank you all so much. We want to know what you think. Sorry for the slight delay in updating we were struggling on how to write Ichigo's reactions in this chapter. We will update next Wednesday.
- The Crew
