Chapter 14
This was not how it was supposed to go at all. He was supposed to quietly slip away into the night and never be seen again. To fade into the background. Now here he was covered in blood, bleeding and facing a younger version of Yamamoto. A very young version. He sighed. This was just not his day it seemed. And it will probably get worse.
"Tell me Ichigo, how is it that you came to be in Shiba Akihiko's care?" Yamamoto's reiatsu exuded simmering fury, and a hidden layer of curiosity and suspicion underneath. None of the other nobles surrounding them held a candle to the man's control on reiatsu. It was well chained power that was ready to lash out when it can. Ichigo sighed again and crossed his arms over his chest, frowning. Zangetsu still buried into the soft forest ground. He needed to tell as little information as possible. He knew that he shouldn't be stubborn in this situation, but that was the only thing that he could think of right now.
"I was injured." Yamamoto's spiked in suspicion. Feeling that reiatsu, he shifted to grip the hilt of Zangetsu. The noble's around them shifted uneasily, many he heard clasped a hand to the hilt of their Zanpaktou. Trying not to visibly, he scanned around him searching for a possible escape route. The only one he found would be if he got past Akihiko, Tadashi and Ryu. He scowled harder. He did not want to fight them, if he needed to get away.
"Injured how?" Yamamoto demanded, taking a step closer to him. Almost as if he had read Ichigo's thoughts on escape. Ichigo squared his shoulders despite the stinging pain in his back and stared sightlessly at the approaching red fiery reiatsu. He gripped harder on the handle of Zangetsu, whom sent him reassuring reiatsu.
"Don't worry King. We will take care of them if we need to. We'll protect you. Always. We promise." He mentally smiled at Shiro's determination and overprotectiveness. Sending a silent thanks to Shiro, he turned his attention back to Yamamoto.
"Fighting." Yamamoto's reiatsu snapped in growing irritation.
"Fighting who?" Yamamoto almost growled out. Ichigo could feel his frown slip into an expressionless mask.
"Enemies. I am not a man to let them live." Nobles around him quivered in fear. He was not intending to have them fear him, but he needed to get his point across. That he was not to be messed with. Yamamoto began steadily releasing murderous reiatsu. He stood firm, the reiatsu not affecting him in the least. He had felt reiatsu far worse than this.
"What do you plan to do now? Surely you will be leaving, if you tried already." Yamamoto pulled out Ryujin Jakka, which had rested in it's sheath on his hip. Ichigo tensed, pulling Zangetsu from the earth. "However, Ichigo, I cannot let someone such as yourself disturbing the peace of the Soul Society. Surrender now or fight." Nobles around them pulled their own blades. Ukitake and Kyoraku already had pulled their blade as soon as Yamamoto did.
He sensed Akihiko as he rushed up from behind him. Akihiko stood in front of him with his arms spread out, protecting Ichigo from Yamamoto's blade.
"Yamamoto-san, there is no need for you to do this. Ichigo has done no wrong."
"Stand down Captain Shiba! If he will not be working within the law, then he is a dangerous entity that needs to be felt with." Yamamoto demanded strongly, but he did not yell. Ichigo knew that yelling would not be as effective. He had also never yelled that way at his troops from his timeline. They would always listen no matter what. His guilt reared it's ugly head as he remembered how loyal they all were, and how all of their blood stained his hands.
"There is no law! Your school has just begun, and you cannot make rules on a whim. What gives you the right to decide what happens to those within the Soul Society?" Akihiko angrily snapped back. Ichigo stared at Akihiko's back. His confusion swirling through his mind.
Why? Why would Akihiko go this far for him? When he had nothing to give in return.
He sucked in a sharp breath. His chest protesting in pain as he expanded his lungs. It was getting harder to breath. He's felt this before. He had punctured a lung during his fight. Placing a hand on his chest, he tried to inhale as much oxygen as he could. He felt like he was drowning.
His vision would be going dark if he could see at the moment. The blobs of reiatsu that he 'saw' wavered. Coughing, he brought his hand to his face and felt his blood coat his hand. Ichigo swayed and shifted forward. He leaned to rest his head on Akihiko's shoulder, interrupting his rant at Yamamoto. Akihiko shifted a little so he could probably look at him.
"Ichigo? What's wrong?" Obvious concern filled Akihiko's voice. He gave a few measly breaths, trying not to pass out. Ichigo wished he didn't have to burden Akihiko like this.
"Sorry Akihiko-san. I wanted to stay. I really did, but I knew that if I stayed with you then your family will be burdened by my problems. I don't want to do that to you. I'm sorry." Akihiko stood frozen to the ground. His breaths coming in short pants. Ichigo felt his racing heartbeat.
"You can stay Ichigo. As long as you want. Let me help carry your burdens. I can protect you. Please let me help you." Akihiko's offer came out in a whisper. Ichigo coughed again, covering his mouth with his already bloodstained hand. Taking as much oxygen as he could, he gave a small smile.
"Thank you, Akihiko-san. I trust you." With that Ichigo succumbed to the darkness, trusting Akihiko to stop him from falling.
Jushiro and Shunshui watched silently as Shiba Akihiko defended the orange haired boy from Yamamoto's wrath. Their blades at the ready in the case of trouble. Ichigo, was swaying on his feet behind the Shiba clan leader. They glanced at each other in concern as soon as they saw Ichigo cough up blood into his hand. Jushiro's face held a small frown. He was always the one to show sympathy to an enemy first. That was just the kind of person he was. Shunshui was more suspicious, but as soon as he got to know a person's character, he would warm up to them quickly. They watched as Ichigo swayed some more before leaning his head down on Akihiko's shoulder. They watched as Akihiko grew pale at first when Ichigo leaned on him. Asking if he was alright. Ichigo responded, but only Akihiko was able to hear him. Akihiko's face then grew grim and he responded to whatever Ichigo had said quietly. Then a short pause, and Ichigo slumped forward, apparently losing consciousness. Akihiko whirled around and caught Ichigo before he could hit the ground. Gently lowering himself and Ichigo to the forest floor, Akihiko cradled the injured boy in his lap.
"Ichigo-san!" Another male shouted, running up to Akihiko and Ichigo, with a small child in his arms. Jushiro and Shunshui both glanced at each other and then sheathed their swords. There was no need for them. Yamamoto did not seem to think so as he advanced on the group. Akihiko noticed Yamamoto and clutched Ichigo tighter.
"Hand the boy over Akihiko." Yamamoto demanded, his blade flashing in the moonlight. Clearly presenting what it was going to do. With it's sharp edge it was going to kill the unconscious boy.
"No. Ichigo is under my care, and I will protect him. Ichigo has agreed to stay with me and my family. And I have decided that he will be adopted into the family, making him a Shiba. If you hurt him, I swear to you Yamamoto that I will bring the wrath of the Shiba clan upon you."
Yamamoto's reiatsu flared in anger, pressing down on all of those in the clearing. Some nobles gasped for air, others feel to their knees, and very few remained standing.
"Who is the stronger one here Captain Shiba?" Yamamoto warned. Akihiko just sat their defiantly, glaring at the man as he shielded Ichigo, the other male and the child with his own reiatsu.
The head of the Kuchiki clan stepped up beside Akihiko.
"Yamamoto-san, there is no need for Ichigo to be killed. You are missing some very important information." Yamamoto rounded on the Kuchiki clan head.
"Then spit it out Captain Kuchiki before I force it out of you." Yamamoto threatened. Not phased by the threat, Kuchiki Ryu gestured to the bodies lying on the ground.
"The people that Ichigo had killed were Ryodoji's. Ryodoji's clansmen had kidnapped Akihiko's daughter, whom Ichigo was protecting. If there is anyone that needs to be questioned in loyalty, it is the Ryodoji clan." Many of the nobles gave sharp intakes of air and began mumbling and searching for the Ryodoji clan head. Those closest to him had moved away, so blame would not be placed on them also. Looking completely unconcerned, Ryodoji inspected his fingernails.
"Is this true, Ryodoji? Did you send some of your men to kidnap another clan leaders child?" Yamamoto demanded. His patience was wearing thin with all of these half truths, lies and back stabbing.
Looking at Yamamoto, Ryodoji gave a snake like smile, his coal black eyes mere slits as he regarded everything carefully. His eyes landing on the dead corpses, then to Yamamoto, and finally rested on Ichigo's prone form on the forest floor.
"Of course not Yamamoto-san. I would never kidnap another clans child. There is no logical reason for me to do this." Ryu stepped in before Yamamoto could say anything.
"Then how do you explain all of these men wearing your uniform that carries your clan symbol on it?" Ryodoji turned his gaze over to Ryu, regarding him as if he were an enemy. He then closed his eyes and waved his pale hand in a dismissing motion.
"I had some uniforms stolen from the supply house. Unfortunately we had not found the thief, but if we had then this night might not have happened. I have a full written report by my guards who had discovered it in my office. I can send that to you Yamamoto-san, along with a list of all of my servants and family. I can assure you that no one is missing." Tension seemed to rise and fall at the same time. Nobles relaxed as they found out that there had not been a traitor amongst them. Akihiko prepared for an attack by drawing his blade. Ryu looked slightly angry for some reason. Yamamoto sighed and sheathed his own zanpaktou.
"Very well. I will have those reports in my office by tomorrow morning." Ryodoji gave a bow.
"Of course Yamamoto-san." Yamamoto turned to Akihiko's little group. A frown clearly in place.
"Since he will be adopted into the Shiba family, then he will have to attend the academy. I want it where I can keep an eye on him. My students can watch him when I cannot. Is that acceptable terms for you Captain Shiba?" Akihiko stared at Yamamoto for a long moment.
"Only after Ichigo is healed, he can go. And that is only if he wishes to. If not then he will become my son and daughter's personal bodyguard. He'll feel useless if he doesn't have something to do." Yamamoto gave a sigh at how stubborn Akihiko was. If what Yamamoto had sensed from Ichigo, then he could actually be related to the Shiba's by sheer stubbornness alone. Shaking his head in exasperation, he turned around and began walking back.
"Akihiko, you are excused from the rest of the clan gathering tonight. Go care for your family. I expect a full report on Ichigo, everything, he has said, done, and experienced."
"I will write what I can." Yamamoto accepted that that was the best answer that he would get from the Shiba he continued on, back to the council building. His students, Jushiro and Shunshui following, with the nobles not that far after that.
Ryu remained behind. He was looking at Akihiko.
"I'll let Sora and the others know. You take care of Ichigo." Akihiko nodded. Ichigo's breathing then hitched and became a gurgle, his body choking on it's own blood. Ichigo gave a wet cough, blood painting his lips. Using his yukata sleeve, Akihiko wiped away the blood that had trickled down from the corner of his lip. Standing, he gently lifted the orange haired teen into his arms. Time was of the essence. Akihiko turned to Ryu, who stood there watching them quietly.
"Ryu send a hell butterfly to Kirinji. Tell him it's Ichigo. He'll know what to do." Ryu gave a nod the shunpoed away. Leaving a swish of leaves to float back down to the earth.
Akihiko pulled Ichigo closer.
"I'll protect you Ichigo. Thank you for trusting me." He whispered, and shunpoed back to his home. Their home. The home Ichigo was now apart of. Even with Ichigo in such a dire situation, Akihiko grinned like a madman. Ichigo was going to stay. He looked down at the teen. His long orange hair whipping around in it's braid. The frown lines gone, softened with sleep. Ichigo looked almost peaceful. Akihiko's heart was soaring in happiness, all because this one boy. This one kind, gentle, caring, protective boy was staying. Akihiko whispered one last promise. A promise to Ichigo and to himself.
"Fair warning. I am never letting you go."
A shout out to:
Mullkkkkkk: I agree, Ichigo can be a dumbass sometimes. Very stubborn too, when he wants to be.
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The Apex Predator 01: Thank you Apex Predator, we are happy that you enjoyed the previous chapter, and we hope you enjoy this next chapter too.
Guest: Thank you for loving our story. We hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Carlmike: It is true that Ichigo never really catches a break, but there will be some peaceful moments for Ichigo. He deserves that at least, but those wont happen for a while. We are very happy that you think this story is interesting. Thank you very much.
Ongaku: Ahh, Ongaku you are very close on some of those theories of yours, but we can't confirm or deny if any of them are correct. That would ruin the fun. This time for real, Ichigo is being adopted into the Shiba family. It's official. Ichigo is now a Shiba. We hope that you enjoy this chapter too.
Himitsu Rei: Ichigo's sight will be back in about six months to a year depending on the storyline. Not a year in the real world, but in the story. Thank you for enjoying our story, we are happy to be able to update every week and hear from all of you.
amazinglion29: Well we don't know how powerful you are so we can only guess, but if you say you are going to die if you try to kill Ryodoji, then you probably will. No offense. Ryodoji will get it, but not for a very long time. He's to slippery to get caught just yet. We are glad that we were able to answer some questions in the last chapter, but we can't answer what Ryodoji's plans are, that would ruin the story. Yamamoto's demanding some big things from Ichigo. We hope you like how it plays out. We are filled with joy also to hear that our work makes you happy, even during rough days. If you ever need to talk, we'll lend an ear.
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