"Servant of Monsters"
Chapter 8 - The next day

HOLY SHIT, IT WAS REALLY CREEPY! It was Kaien's first thought right after waking up and recalling the last night's conversation with bright orange-haired employer, Kurosaki Ichigo. Still not trusting, he ran in front of the bathroom's mirror and looked for any visible bites. Not counting three itchy bumps, clearly caused by mosquitoes, he hadn't found anything out of the ordinary. Sighing in relief, he brushed his teeth, washed his face, and combed his hair, though they were naturally forming black spikes. During his time in the bathroom, he thought over Ichigo's strange power to lure somebody into sleep. The sensation was really pleasant, never in his life has he slept that well. At the same time, it frightened him. Eh... Reflection looked back at him, its face showing endless confusion and nervousness. I never wanted to have an ordinary life... But this is just waaaay far away from what I have imagined... Comforting himself, he picked from his wardrobe black trousers, black shirt and, obviously, black jumper. His hand stopped near the doorknob. ...Okay, I can do this! After the encouragement, he left his room and walked slowly to the dinning room.

"Oh, Shiba-kun! Good morning!" He finally entered the room, filled with various porcelain dishes and some strange still-life paintings hanging on the wall, and joined the strange family near the rectangular mahogany table. The breakfast has already been served, but no food has been touched yet. Kaien looked at everybody. The old man zombie-Isshin waved at him joyfully, not minding a small stream of blood coming out of his wrist stitches. The young man waved back, sending an insecure smile. "Please, please, sit down! We were waiting for you!"

The head of the family was sitting between his wife, who was now growing a fistful of camomiles and preparing a cup of boiling water, and the creepy Old Man Zangetsu, who for a second ignored the newspaper and bowed politely at the newcomer.

Kaien found an empty seat between the vampire-Ichigo and ghost-Shiro. Plushie-Kon was standing on the table and looking at his magazine. A small dark cloud was flying above his head as he tried not to look at the servant.

"Alright, everybody! Let us thank our cooks for this nice feast and wish each other a pleasant day! Also..." Isshin grabbed the glass of orange juice. "I want to officially welcome you, Shiba Kaien. You may be an assistant of my bright boys, but we'll make sure you'll be feeling like a part of our family! Cheers!" Masaki and Ichigo grabbed their glasses and rose them in a small toast. Shiro looked at Kaien and smiled. Kon was still ignoring his servant.

"Where are Yuzu-sama and Karin-sama?" Kaien grabbed few pancackes and reached for the pot of tea. Everything in front of his sea eyes was sparking and appetizing. The sight forced his mouth to drool.

"It's quite an early hour for them. They're still too young to turn into creatures like us, so they can sleep normally." Ichigo explained, reaching for a small silver package. He took out a needle with a plastic tube and stuck it into the back. Using it like a straw, Ichigo sucked on the tube. Dark-red liquid poured out from the packet, right into the vampire's mouth.

"I-Is that...!?" Kaien looked at the liquid with horrified expression. All the hunger he felt before changed immediately into strong nausea. Plant-Masaki frowned at her son.

"Ichigo!" She scolded the orange-haired boy. He stopped drinking and frowned.

"What? I have to eat now!" He whined. I don't feel like eating, anymore... THANKS TO YOU. Kaien angrily thought at the vampire. Unfazed, Ichigo came back to his bag of blood and slurped loudly, making sure everyone at the table hear him.

Instead of whining, just eat the damn breakfast. Ichigo thought back. The rude reply amazed Kaien, his face deadpanned.

It'd be easier if you weren't slurping blood right next to my plate.

I can slurp my blood anywhere I want, this is my house.

I'm sorry, it might be normal for you, but I don't feel comfortable when someone's drinking blood while I try to eat real food!

Well, excuse ME that all the delicacies in front of me are practically useless for my body and I'm living on a fucking shit bag of someone's erythrocytes!, Ichigo slammed his hand on the table, abruptly standing up and storming out of the dinning room. Whole family were sitting in silence while witnessing the thought-quarrel. It took a few moments for Kaien to snap out of his shock. Shame came to him as he realized that it wasn't his place to criticize his orange-haired employer.

"Don't worry, his anger will pass quickly." Shiro spoke, using his ghost abilities to turn the newspaper. "Ichigo tends to be really touchy when he drinks blood." The taste of blood was disgusting, as Ichigo described to him last night. "Though, ya know, next time be more considerate of his state."

"My apologies, I shouldn't have acted like that." Kaien dropped his head in front of the Kurosaki parents.

"It's not all your fault, Shiba-san." Masaki smiled warmly, reaching for her morning tea. "Ichigo should have also think about your reaction. You're still freshly shocked from the news. Too bad for him, he's the only one that can't enjoy food like normal people."

"Do tell, Ma, Ichigo can actually taste anythin'. M'a flyin' ectoplasm with just a shadow of non-workin' digestive system. And Kon here has nothin' inside, but cotton."

"Hey!" Kon protested. "I still have my uncanny charm and sharp mind!" Shiro rolled his black-golden eyes.

Now I feel like a real fucking asshole... Kaien blushed in embarrassment, when both Shiro and Kon gave him a surprised look after his thoughts. "I-I'm sorry!" Realizing that also the older Kurosakis can hear everything as well, he felt even worse. "I really didn't mean to curse... in my thoughts..."

"Reminds me – Ichigo mentioned ya wanted somethin' that'd block us from hearin' yer mind." Shiro spoke and turned to the plushie lion. "Kon, ya think ya can work yer magic?" The toy scratched his fluffy ear.

"I can make a necklace with some of your power used in the Thought Helmet. That should do the trick. But as long as I have soft, miniature paws, I can't really do anything." Kon explained, facing to the servant in an imaginary spotlight. "Be grateful to experience Kon-sama's endless generosity!" Kaien wasn't sure if he felt all that grateful, but thanked anyway. "I'll start working on it as soon as I return to normal."

"Nice. Alrighty, Kaien-san, ya're goin' with me to the Clinic. We're checkin' all patients' records and ya need to practice yer psychotherapist image." Suspicious glimmer inside black-golden eyes lit an anxiety fire inside Kaien's stomach.

"...My psychotherapist image?"

"M'havin' my first patient at 7 o'clock. Tody I ain't feelin' well, so all guys were informed that Doc Shiba will be seein' them."

"...Say what?"