We are alive! The crew would like to apologize for not updating sooner. Most of us had to handle a lot of school work and have not been able to type as much. But we are back and to make it up to all of our readers we will be updating everyday until next Wednesday.
Chapter 15
"Damn you Akihiko! I am not some on call doctor for your crazy suicidal guest. What did he do this time?" Shouting came from the right of him. That voice was very familiar and Akihiko had ghost pains appearing on his backside. He was certain that he was going to be kicked tonight. Akihiko looked to his right as Kirinji shunpoed up beside him, emerging from the shrubbery and leaving a trail of tumbling leaves and puffs of dust behind. He gave what he thought was a grin to his friend. It probably turned out to be a grimace. Akihiko just wasn't in the mood right now considering that Ichigo was in pain and possibly dying. There is also the case of what happened earlier too.
"Oh you know, protected my daughter from kidnappers, who also happened to try and kill him a while back. Sorry for calling on someone I trust to take care of Ichigo." He snapped at his friend.
Kirinji turned grim as his anger faded away into seriousness as he scanned over Ichigo's unconscious body. The slight jostling from Akihiko not helping in the slightest, but did not stop him from missing anything. From the light coating of blood on Ichigo's lips, the staggered breathing, the cut on his side and the blood soaked into the clothing on Akihiko's forearm.
"Alright. Let's go then. From what I can tell so far, he won't make it if I don't treat him soon." Kirinji stated as he speed up his shunpo, sending leaves rustling. Akihiko and Tadashi following at his heels.
The group rushed along the dusty, dark pathway lined with moonlit trees that rustled in the slight breeze. A storm was rolling in, and the smell of rain filled the air. Animals rushed to take shelter from the oncoming storm.
Akihiko wished he had not seen what he had when he arrived at the Shiba estate. His home. Chaos. Guards were sprawled on the ground unconscious, some bleeding out from wounds and dying the grass a dark red. Staff were running around scrambling to help the healers that moved about to treat the guards. How could this have happened? What did his family do to deserve this?
"Quick, get Ichigo inside." Kirinji demanded, bringing Akihiko back from his wandering thoughts.
Swiftly navigating through the chaos, they had made it to Ichigo's bedroom. Tadashi had fallen behind at some point, but Akihiko could feel his fast approaching reiatsu. Tadashi should be here soon. Taking a quick glance around the room, Akihiko took everything in. The room was sparse in decor, but there were a few items here and there. Items that Ichigo had given to Yuko. There was a leather ball and a few books for her to read laying on the top of the polished oak chest of drawers.
There waiting, hiding in a corner of the lamp lit room was Yuko. Sitting there, shaking and terrified. Her brown eyes widened as they landed on Ichigo. Giving a silent cry of surprise, Yuko scrambled to her feet and towards them as Akihiko set Ichigo down on his futon.
Collapsing on her knees beside Ichigo, she grasped onto the yukata, giving him a little shake as she slumped onto Ichigo's chest, silently sobbing. Her eyes silently begging Ichigo to do something. To be alright. Kirinji scowled and grabbed the girl's arm. Yuko looked at Kirinji in surprise and fear.
"Get away from him girl!" Kirinji demanded. Yuko only clung tighter onto Ichigo, shaking her head as tears fell down her cheeks.
"Kirinji…" Akihiko warned his friend. He knew very well that Yuko won't leave Ichigo. That was because Ichigo was the only constant thing in her life right now. Her family was gone and she couldn't speak, but Ichigo always knew what she wanted before she even knew herself. Even if he was blind. How Ichigo always knew was a mystery.
Kirinji gave a deep sigh, trying to calm himself. Akihiko knew he wasn't angry at the girl. What Kirinji was angry at, he could only guess.
"Alright. Go sit by his feet. I can't heal him if you're clinging to him like that. Now move." Kirinji shooed at Yuko, who shuffled to kneel at the end of the futon. The futon that was currently being dyed crimson. Yuko sat at attention like a guard dog, ignoring the tears that silently fell down her cheeks.
Kirinji went to work, using his reiatsu to scan Ichigo. The longer the scan went, the deeper Kirinji's frown became. Taking notice of it, Akihiko shifted closer.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Kirinji scowled at him and not bothering to answer Akihiko, he went to riffle through his medical bag. The sound of glass clinking, liquid sloshing, and bags rustling filled the room, and the tangy smell of herbs floated in the air.
Ichigo's sliding door opened and Tadashi stumbled in panting, still holding Kameko in his arms. Sweat stuck his brown hair to the sides of his face and his face was flushed from the extensive flash stepping.
Akihiko motioned for Tadashi to sit near Yuko, whom stared intently at Ichigo and what Kirinji was doing. Tadashi settled himself down with a small worried sigh. Kameko shifted in her jade green blanket to see Ichigo. Her face scrunched up in preparation to cry out to Ichigo. Kameko knew that something was wrong. She gave a soft cry and reached out towards Ichigo.
Kameko's cry drew attention to herself, and Kirinji looked between her and Ichigo for a few brief moments. Kirinji then looked to Akihiko for an explanation. He knew that Kirinji would just continue to ask or come to a conclusion by himself. Sometimes those conclusions were completely ridiculous.
"Kameko has a strange connection to Ichigo. I can't explain it exactly, but she is the most relaxed and happiest when she is with Ichigo. More so than she is with anyone else on the estate."
The sliding door behind Akihiko and Kirinji opened. Both turned as Chiyo, Sora, Ran and Shin were revealed. Sora glanced in, then took off with Ran in tow, promising to return shortly.
Gliding in with her head held high, and her hands hidden in her gold and red kimono sleeves. Chiyo was the picture of grace and elegance. She gestured at Tadashi for Kameko, whom stood up to hand her over. Chiyo looked at Ichigo with unreadable eyes, then turned towards Akihiko and Kirinji.
"I can explain Kameko's connection to Ichigo." Sora had retrieved cushions for them to sit on with Ran's help and placed them down. Taking a seat at the head of Ichigo's futon, Chiyo took Kameko from Tadashi. Kameko immediately latched onto a long stray strand of Ichigo's orange hair and quietly settled into Chiyo's arms, beginning to doze off. Kirinji scowled at how many people were in the room. Almost to many for him to concentrate on Ichigo. Steeling his shoulders, Kirinji applied healing kido and listened to the conversation happening in the room. There was Sora, Ran and Shin sitting along the wall near the door. Tadashi and Yuko at the foot of Ichigo's bed. There was also the least injured guards posted at both entryways into the room. Kirinji sighed. Here he was trying to heal an injured person and people sat around as if this was an everyday occurrence and should be taken lightly.
Life and death should never be taken lightly. Kirinji turned back to the conversation at hand when Chiyo began speaking to Akihiko.
"Akihiko, you yourself have a very special gift. You can determine what a person is from their reiatsu alone if you can feel it. Kameko has a similar gift. She can tell the emotions that a person is feeling. That's why she is the happiest with Ichigo."
"Because she can't feel his emotions." Kirinji cut in as he quickly understood her explanation of Kameko's gifts. Chiyo dipped her head at him in agreement.
"That is correct. Kameko gets a break from feeling others feelings. She is only able to feel her own when she is with Ichigo." Akihiko stared at Kameko for a long moment then glared at Chiyo.
"Why didn't you tell me about her gifts?" Akihiko demanded. Chiyo barely spared a glance at him.
"Don't be stupid Akihiko. Why would I willingly reveal Kameko's gift? If others had found out about her gifts and that they are passed down from parent to child. What would happen to Kameko?"
"She would be a target. A very large one. Others would want her for her gifts and others would want to kill her because of those gifts." Kirinji interrupted again. "I'm guessing Ichigo had understood that at some instinctive level." Chiyo nodded again.
"That is the most likely case."
Akihiko sat there. His emotions and thoughts too muddled to be made sense of. So much had been revealed tonight and Akihiko could hardly process it all. There was the stuff about Ichigo and now Kameko.
What interrupted the contemplative silence was when Ichigo began to give small choking sounds. Blood bubbling at his lips. Springing into action, Kirinji did a quick scan. What he saw was not good. The scowl and furrowed brows concerned the rest in the room.
"Damnit. He's got blood in his lungs. Whoever did this did it on purpose. Breaking his ribs and hitting them enough times to puncture his lungs. I can't tell if it was their goal to kill him or not. Get me a bowl." Kirinji demanded, not even looking up from his patient. His left hand waving in the air angrily. Tadashi shot up from his seat, rushing to get the wanted item. Kirinji turned to Akihiko. "Get on the other side of Ichigo. You're going to help move him onto his side." Akihiko hesitated and that gave Kirinji the opportunity to yell at him. "Move out of the way then. Let your assistant do it. I can't have any hesitance from those that help me."
Sora moved to Ichigo's side at Kirinji's demand, already knowing what to do. Akihiko slinked dejectedly to Sora's spot, and sat down staring helplessly at Ichigo. Sora gave a small comforting pat on Akihiko's right shoulder as he passed.
"Father, will Ichigo be alright?" The sound of Shin's voice drew Akihiko to look at his son. Sitting on his right side, Shin was looking a little pale and green. Shin had never seen the terrible side of any battle before. Akihiko was grateful to kami-sama that Shin was not with him when he first found Ichigo, and the massacre that happened. Shin would have had nightmares for a long time if he did see. Akihiko pulled Shin to his side to comfort and shield him from horror of it all. Chiyo noticed and glared at the two of them.
"Do not look away. Either of you. Akihiko, I know you want to protect Shin from the horrible truth, but that would dishonor what Ichigo had done for this family. Protecting your daughter Akihiko, your little sister Shin. So do not look away and follow Ran's example." Akihiko looked to his left to glance at Ran. She sat there on the cushion, her back straight, face pale and strained and her hands bunched tightly in the kimono fabric. Ran's shoulders quivered, but she stared determinedly at Ichigo.
Tadashi rushed back into the room, his arms laden with bandages, cloth, bowls and a pitcher of hot water. Kirinji held his hand out for the bowl. Immediately being placed into his hand, Kirinji placed the bowl by Ichigo's head and with Sora's help rolled Ichigo onto his side gently. A well placed burst of kido forced Ichigo to cough and hack up the blood into the bowl. Droplets of the crimson liquid jumping out and splattering the floor. Shin flinched in horror and turned an even darker shade of green. Akihiko silently trying to comfort Shin by tightening his grip around Shin's shoulders.
Kirinji applied more healing kido, and performed numerous scans. Him, Sora and Tadashi cleaned, healed and bandaged Ichigo's wounds. The others sat there uselessly watching, and hoping that their mere presence could be of some help.
Once healing Ichigo was done, Sora cleaned up by removing the bloodied gauze, bowls of water and blood. Tadashi changed the futon and Ichigo's clothes. Everyone in the room being able to catch a small glimpse at the numerous scars that claimed areas of Ichigo's skin. Shin tightened his grip on Akihiko's sleeve. Akihiko gently ran his fingers through Shin's dark hair to comfort him.
"I'm sorry father. I'm sorry." Shin whispered, but everyone in the room caught it. Akihiko pulled Shin closer to himself.
"Shhhh. It's not your fault Shin. None of this is your fault. There is nothing for you to be sorry for." Shin began sniffling and tears shined at the corner of his eyes as he stared brokenly at Akihiko.
"But there is." Shin wailed as he buried his face into Akihiko's side. "I have been so mean to Ichigo. He's treated me so kindly, and I had done everything I could to make him feel unwanted here."
Akihiko opened his mouth to reply, but Chiyo beat him to it.
"Then apologize to Ichigo when he wakes up. He's the one that deserves the apology and not your father." Shin's crying stuttered to a halt, and he peeked over at his grandmother. He then pulled away from Akihiko and wiped his eyes with his beige and blue yukata sleeve.
"Okay." Shin replied quietly and heavy from crying. Akihiko turned to Kirinji.
"Thank you Kirinji for healing Ichigo." Kirinji scoffed and rolled his eyes. He the stood up and pulled back his black Shihakusho sleeves.
"My work's not done yet. You have a yard full of injured guardsmen, and here I am listening to a sob fest and arguments. You Shibas never cease to be boring. Now, I order all of you to get some rest. I'm not going to even try telling Akihiko because he will want to do some fire control and won't listen anyways. And consider this, I will be taking over the estate until everyone is healed and treated." Kirinji glared at each and every one of the occupants in the room, making them tense up, even the guardsmen stationed at the corners and entryways.
"And that includes every single one of you."
A shout out to:
V01dSw0rd: That is what some of us believe too and that is why his sealed Zanpaktou looks like his first bankai. We also had Ichigo use this sealed form as a testament to his friends and the peace before the wars. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and we hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Loli-Hype Ichi: Don't worry Ichigo will get well. There is nothing to be worried about. And people will come to recognize how wonderful Ichigo truly is. Thank you for letting us know what you think, and we hope you continue to do so.
innocent94: We apologize to you about not updating as of late. To make it up to you we will be posting a chapter every day till next Wednesday were it will go back to being once a week. Please forgive us for not updating. We would also like to thank you for enjoying this story.
Mulllkkkkkk: That is a very true statement. And Yamamoto will continue to be one for a while. We hope you enjoy this next chapter.
Rob: Sorry about the short chapter and for not updating for a while, but the chapters will be longer. We promise.
peerainbowdog: YOU ARE VERY WELCOME! WE LOVE THAT YOU LOVE IT SO MUCH! THANK YOU!
Asdfghjkl: We are very happy that you think so highly of our story. We would like to apologize for going on a small hiatus, but school had gotten to many of us. We put our story before our school work, and it came back to bite us in the ass. Now we are back on track though, so there hopefully will be no more hiatuses.
amazinglion29: [BOWS VERY DEEPLY] We are so very sorry that we did not update. We are going to make it up to you. We promise. Also we read your review and it made us laugh so hard at what you think of Ryodoji. He is a slippery one and has backup plans for backup plans. But those plans might turn into his downfall. Yamamoto will be very demanding and suspicious of Ichigo for a while. Ichigo being adopted into the family will be a cause for celebration in the Shiba household, but there will be drama that comes with it when it involves family members. Thank you enjoying our story so much and nice tongue twister by the way. And you are correct. This is only the very beginning.
Anthony00: Sorry about the chapter being a little short. Okay, Ichigo's zanpaktou is sealed, but it takes on the appearance of his first bankai. We hope that helps clear up any confusion for you.
Ongaku: Thank you. Your reaction made us laugh. Yes, Ichigo is a true Shiba now. And secrets are our forte.
lizja: Thank you for saying that our story is beautiful. You're making us blush. We also love time travel stories. Yes, Ichigo is being adopted by his own family. Ironic right. We are also very happy that you stayed up all night to read our story, and that you check several times a day. There will be a reveal later on, but that is a long way off. And we are truly sorry for not updating sooner.
Kevban: Thank god for google translate. Because none of us speak french. Thank you for enjoying this story. We apologize for not updating sooner.
Guest: Thank you for enjoying our story. Don't worry we will continue.
MistyPaws: We are alive, and the story is still going. Our apologies for not updating in a while, and hopefully there will not be anymore breaks. We hope that you enjoy this update, and that you have a nice day too.
Thank you to all of our readers. Again we would like to apologize for not updating in a month, but we are back, and to make it up to all of you. We are going to post a chapter everyday till next Wednesday. We look forward to hear from all of you. See you tomorrow! Wow, that is really weird to type.
- The Crew
