WARNING MASSIVE SPOILERS
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One Lucky Day
It was three days later that Ichigo had found himself in another quandary. It started the afternoon before as he returned from a late night training session with Ganjyu, Hyou and Yukino. Tired from their workout and sleepy from the relaxing bath he had taken, it took an elbow to his ribs from Ganjyu before he realized there was commotion just outside their door. As the figures approached, Ichigo recognized the tall, dark, long, haired woman, the shorter busty black haired woman and the equally busty brown haired one. He never did remember their names, but he had remembered them from the dining hall incident. It started to annoy him when he realized their reiatsu was following him around in the academy. He remembered the laughter and guffawing in his room afterwards as the three pushed past him, to see how the object of their admiration lived. They gushed when they spotted the small lion plush toy altar and stared love hearts at him as Ganjyu explained that it was a very important item to Ichigo. It had taken all Ichigo's power to hustle the three out, claiming fatigue and needing an early night. In exchange they had made him promise to remember their names which he complied. By the time he had punched Ganjyu in the face and gone to bed, he had forgotten.
Ichigo marveled at the capricious nature of fate and how it had now dragged him by the nose, sweating in the cool morning air, following the head maid of Kuchiki Byakuya as he was led through the Kuchiki mansion. It was as he woke that trouble really started. There was a knock on the door and as usual Hyou answered it. It was a delivery Shinigami and he had a large package for Ichigo. Dragging the box into the room Ganjyu and Hyou had gathered around curiously to see what Ichigo had received. As the box opened, an explosion of felt and softness covered the room as more than twenty plush toys expanded from their compressed state. Ichigo's face did a fine impression of a ripe tomato as Ganjyu fell to the ground beating the floor with his fist as his other hand fought to contain his kidney, which threatened to explode from laughter. Even the usual more reserved Hyou could not hold back, and his soft snigger became a raucous laughter joining in the cacophony. Ichigo could only glance over at the room covered with over a dozen Chappy the Bunnies and other plush toys. "Dammit! What next, protection groupies?" Ichigo thought to himself.
As he reached the large reception hall, a feeling of apprehension swept over him. He hadn't thought far enough about what to say and how to explain it. Now it was a bit too late. The old maid motioned for him to take his place to the right.. Ichigo took the cushion and knelt down on it beside Byakuya as another maid entered the room carrying two cups of tea, which was placed carefully on the small, low table between them. As the maids left, Ichigo sought to a way to begin. Byakuya, as patient as ever, merely took his cup and began to sip his tea.
"Bya… Kuchiki-san," Ichigo gulped. Byakuya was surprised at his sudden politeness and thought this might be interesting. "Umm… I've come to give your sister some gifts I thought she might like."
There, he said it. He waited for a reaction from Byakuya but was surprised to find the noble calmly drinking his tea. A couple of maids slowly entered the hall and took the large box from him, carefully taking it to Rukia's room. Putting down his cup Byakuya asked the air in front of him. "What do you think of Rukia?"
Ichigo was stunned. He wondered what Byakuya was up to as he gave his answer, "Ah… She's a good person… very…" stuck for words he tried to use one that he thought Byakuya himself might use. "Honourable." Pleased with himself Ichigo reached over to take his cup and drink his tea.
"Are you in love with her?"
The tea halfway down Ichigo's throat came sharply back up. "Byakuya! What the hell!" Ichigo sputtered.
Byakuya sighed inwardly as he closed his eyes, finishing his tea. It had taken all of three sentences for Ichigo to forget his manners. Calming himself he thought to explain to the young ruffian. "Rukia is 158 years old. She is of marrying age." Byakuya paused letting the information sink in, secretly he wondered if Ichigo would be able to understand his inference, through that thick skull of his.
Ichigo started to sweat heavily. What did Rukia being of marrying age have to do with him! A maid had come in during the silence and wiped up the floor. Another maid followed her and poured another cup of tea for each. Byakuya continued non-plussed, "It would be unseemly for a man and a woman to be seen together so intimately if there were no intention. Acting improperly in public is frowned upon and as a noble, one must act as befitting a noble."
The maid had returned with a fresh pot of steaming tea and had placed it on the table. Ichigo gulped it down, replenishing his lost moisture. "Wh..What does that have to do with me?" He wasn't sure he was going to like the answer.
Byakuya opened his eyes and stared intently into nothingness. "My grandfather, the head of the Kuchiki house has decreed that Rukia is not to approach you so… callously." He thought that should be a subtle enough hint.
Ichigo strained his mind to understand him, really, politics and diplomacy were not his forte. He preferred the direct, in your face approach of Rukia to this torture any day. Hell, even her crappy drawings would be better than this. "So you mean, you want her to not come around and kick and punch me and yell at me and call me a moron?"
That was part of the problem, Byakuya admitted. "Yes."
"That's great!" Ichigo was suddenly in high spirits again, "You don't know how many times I've wanted to slap the b… err, I mean Rukia… umm I meant tell her to stop. No slapping." Ichigo mentally scolded himself for his temporary loss of manners. "Maybe you should tell her, Byakuya."
Byakuya glared at Ichigo using the only other expression his face was capable of, disapproval. Even after they fought so long ago on the cliff of the Sokuyoku (1) he had merely eyed Ichigo with disapproval, not hate nor malice. "The head has decided that she is not to approach you…"
"What! What the hell kinda shitty ass rule is that!" Ichigo interrupted. "Where I come from you can't do that!"
"This is Soul Society. Not the real world." Byakuya wondered what he had ever done, to make fate kick the Kuchiki's whenever a Kurosaki was involved.
"Why can't we see each other? She's 158 and I'm 21 we're both adults." Ichigo scowled realizing how ridiculous that sounded.
"As I was saying, she would not be allowed to approach you, but you will be allowed to approach her."
"That's messed up!" Ichigo exclaimed. Didn't that essentially mean the same thing?
Byakuya closed his eyes to calm himself down. "If you wish to see her, you must come here to ask for her time," the look Byakuya gave to Ichigo could bleed blood from stone. "Your intentions must be honourable."
"I don't intend to do anything dishonourable to her Byakuya." Ichigo replied getting annoyed. "I wouldn't harm her, I'd protect her with my life."
Ichigo had intended his last statement to be a challenge but instead Byakuya seemed to relax and only nodded. Ichigo got that confused feeling again, as he attempted to formulate a coherent question, Byakuya calmly spoke. "That will be all. I am satisfied."
Dazed and utterly confused Ichigo rose and excused himself. Walking out he had the sinking feeling he'd missed something.
Zanjutsu training consisted of repeated workouts in yard 15, followed by repeated swinging of Ichigo's Asuachi in one of three of the basic Kendo attacks, chop, slice or thrust. It was a menial task for Ichigo, who felt the weight of his sword as an elephant would feel the weight of an ant on its back. It was sparring practice that Ichigo looked forward to and enjoyed the most. Even though every practice to date has ended up with him as the ultimate victor, he liked the challenge of swordsmanship without the intricacies of reiatsu use.
It was mid afternoon when he was doing basic drills to the instructors monotonous counting when he felt the subtle approach of the reiatsu of doom. "Damn" he thought to himself. A second later he was held in a shoulder to shoulder embrace from either side as two familiar people smiled down at him.
"Ichigo!" a bald headed 3rd seat smiled at him. When Madarame Ikkaku smiled, something was going to happen, usually involving a lot of blood.
"Ichigo!" the effeminate 5th seat on the his other side of him purred. "When are you ever going to come around to spar?" For a pretty boy Yumichika could pull off the cold assassin voice very well.
The class turned around to gape at the trio. The 11th Division had a reputation for being blood thirsty, psychopathic killers. Everyone took a step back subconsciously from the three. Ichigo's reputation for association with nobility was well known, his association with barbarians was only adding to his mystique.
"What are you two doing here? I'm in class!"
"C'mon Ichigo! You should be sparring with us!" Ikkaku complained, holding onto Ichigo tighter. "Say the word and I'll have you in the 11th Division tomorrow."
"You know that's not possible Ikkaku," Ichigo scowled. He was supposed to keep a low profile.
"Excuse me Madarame-san, Ayesegawa-san but I have a class to teach here." The instructor shouted as his glasses nearly fell off. "If you could leave this till after class I would much appreciate it."
"Four eyes! Four eyes!" A shrill excited voice called out from the lips of an small, pink haired infant. Kusajishi Yachiru's large brown eyes contained an uncontrolled demonic glee as she tugged vigorously at the instructors sleeves. "Ken-chan wants to teach today."
Where Yachiru was, Zaraki Kenpachi was sure to be close. He struggled to free himself from the embrace of his two companions but without resorting to drastic means, it was a futile effort. Resigned, he said a silent prayer to what ever deity that cared to listen as the giant captain of the 11th Division stepped towards the instructor. The instructor, wide eyed, bowed and struggled to find his voice. Before he could say anything Kenpachi stated coldly, "I will instruct today's lesson." It was the Kenpachi way of asking.
"As you wish Captain Zaraki." The instructor replied as he stepped away from him to regain his breath.
The huge captain stepped forward as the class stepped back in a sort of macabre cha cha. He glowered, his face stern as it sought out one particular person. His eye patch and scar across his other eye did wonders for his charisma as he spoke, "I am Captain Zaraki of the 11th Division."
"And I'm Vice Captain Kusajishi!" Yachiru squealed as she leapt onto the back of Kenpachi's head, careful not to mess his elaborate porcupine hairstyle.
"Today I will instruct you," Kenpachi grinned. "My first lesson is sparring. I shall decide the pairings."
"HELL NO!!" Ichigo couldn't hold himself back any longer.
"Aww C'mon Ichigo! Don't be like that." Kenpachi almost purred. "It'll be fun."
"No! I refuse!! I'm not going through that again!"
'Again' Hyou thought to himself, did Ichigo ever spar with the Zaraki Kenpachi before. He shook his head, he had agreed with Yukino that it didn't matter about Ichigo's past, what mattered was how he was now. Still he couldn't help but feel a twinge of admiration and curiosity towards his roommate.
Ichigo struggled vainly against his captors and thought about increasing his reiatsu exponentially. However, he thought better of it as a sudden increase in reiatsu might excite the volatile captain even more. Instead his mind raced around for an idea, any idea, to avoid a fight in front of his class mates. "YAY!! Ken-chan is going to have sooo much fun!" Yachiru voice was shrill with delight as she Shunpo'd and appeared on 'Four eyes' shoulder giggling at his shock.
"The first pair to spar will be me and Ichigo," Kenpachi declared. The whole class had the 'better him than me' look on their faces.
Ichigo smirked, putting on an air of confidence as he challenged Kenpachi. "I'll fight you Kenpachi. But only on one condition."
"Name it," Zaraki Kenpachi was more than happy to oblige.
"You must first be able to call out your Shikai."
"What!" Kenpachi's shout scattered the class as they retreated even further.
"I told you once before, I'll never be de…um never fight one who can only fight by himself." Ichigo winced as it didn't quite make sense, so he added, "At full strength."
Kenpachi thought for a while. He had wanted to fight Ichigo, but more than that he had wanted to fight Ichigo at his full strength. He grunted and grinned. "Very well, we'll fight then." He leered. "There'll be blood and carnage for us to enjoy."
The whole class breathed a sigh of relief as Captain Zaraki and his division members left the training grounds. They seemed to be rather jubilant after their little stunt and chatted happily away, except for Kenpachi who seemed to just smile for the rest of the day. "Sensei" a rather tired Ichigo managed to utter, "I feel sick. I need to go to hospital's sick bay."
Yamada Yukino lay in the rather large hot spring, letting the vapour and heat burn away the knot in her back. She had had an exhausting day and had seized upon the opportunity to use the hotspring in the secret cavern they had been using for training. They weren't due for training yet, and since there was a screen around the spring, she had felt like coming here to relax. She placed a large steel cymbal next to her so she could warn the others that she was in there. Her clothes lay in a neat pile behind her, under the cymbal on top of a rock. The thick steam coming up off the water surface created beads of sweat on her face. She stretched, catlike into the air above her and let the water run down her smooth pale skin. She was in heaven.
Closing her eyes she plunged her head underwater, luxuriating in the feel of the warm liquid running over her body. She held her breath, and never heard the sound of someone entering, or the sound of clothing slumping over screen. She stood up out of the thigh deep water and combed her long hair through her fingers letting it drape over her left shoulder, over her breast. She opened her eyes and tried to scream in surprise, but she had no voice.
Ichigo stunned couldn't help but stare at the woman before him standing out of the steaming water. He was sure his face matched the blood redness of her hair and his voice matched her own. He panicked when she opened her eyes and he realized he was naked. Jumping clumsily at the screen in an attempt to get his towel, he had inadvertently knocked it over. She spun around and tried to grab her clothes under the cymbal but knocked them behind the rock instead as she lifted the instrument. Frustrated, she acted on instinct, turned around and threw the cymbal at Ichigo, clanging as it struck his head.
Ichigo became aware of his modest, modesty in the cold air of nakedness and did the only thing he could, he jumped into the hot spring opposite her, sinking into the water up to his chin. She did likewise and for a long while all they could do was stare at each other in silence. Ichigo finally mustered the courage to speak first seeing as she wasn't able to. "Sorry, Yamada-san… I didn't know you were in here. And you kinda scared the shit outta me when you stood up."
She looked at him and grinned, shaking her then. Then suddenly her mouth opened in a soundless laugh, one hand covering it as she pointed to his face and back to her hair. "Shut up." Ichigo responded, annoyed.
He smirked as he slowly took aim and splashed water at her face. She looked at him surprised, then playfully, she splashed water back at him. Very soon they were splashing each other back and forth like a couple of kids in a swimming pool. She had been a little too enthusiastic in her splashing, rising slightly out of the water, and freezing Ichigo. His mouth agape in shock, he was rewarded by a mouthful of sulphurous fluid. Turning his head away, as much to hide his embarrassment as to not get splashed, he attacked her more vigorously with the water.
"Yo! Ichi-bro! What the hell are you doing splashing all the water away!" The familiar voice of Ganjyu was only yards away from him. "Are you a baby or what?"
Their game was brought to a sudden stop as Yukino sunk slowly into the water trying desperately to hide in the steam. Ichigo spun around to see Ganjyu and Hyou in towels holding their clothing under their arms. "What the hell did you do to our screen?" Ganjyu asked, shaking his head. "Me and Hyou spent ages making that!"
Yukino clapped her hands over her eyes as Ganjyu reached over to his towel preparing to take it off. Ichigo had to act and fast. Blinded by instinct, he stood up out of the water and did the first thing that came to his mind. "Demon Art, number 1 – Sai"
To his surprise both Ganjyu and Hyou's arms flew behind their backs, their knees buckled, both fell faced forward on the ground. His spell had worked. He was just as shocked as everyone else.
"What the hell?" Ganjyu shouted, his eyes almost jumping out of their sockets.
"Kurosaki-san, what is the meaning of this?" Hyou asked, confused and dazed from the sudden fall.
Ichigo was speechless. He was still busy marveling at the fact that he'd just cast his first Kidou spell. He cursed his luck that he only seemed to learn things when his life was in danger or when he was seriously under pressure. A sharp kick to his nether regions reminded him that he was not out of danger yet. Apparently Ichigo had stayed standing out of the water a little longer than Yukino had found comfortable.
"What's wrong?" Hyou asked now concerned by the pained expression on Ichigo face. "Are you under attack?"
Ichigo crumpled over and slipped back into the water before the lack of oxygen snapped him back to reality. "Uh… Now's not a good time to take a bath."
"Why not?" Ganjyu asked, suspicious. He was sure he saw signs of splashing near Ichigo's privates and it couldn't have been Ichigo.
"I'm in here already." Ichigo focused some reiatsu down below to heal whatever damage was done, or at least block the pain.
"Something's fishy here Ichigo. Is someone else there?" Ganjyu's eyes narrowed. They had made a solemn promise to each other that this was to be their secret training ground. They didn't want it invaded by everyone from the academy.
As if in response, an arm grew out of the steam from the other end of the spring.
Ganjyu grinned, he would pay back Ichigo for the spell. "Is that you Rukia?" he asked the hand.
The hand became a fist and turned to face them before shaking side to side.
"Inoue-san?" Ganjyu asked again, avoiding the only other possible answer. Again the fist shook.
"The black haired chick with the big…"
"It's Yukino alright!" Ichigo snapped angrily.
"Yukino eh?" Ganjyu saw the hand nod as he winked at Hyou. Even Hyou had to suppress a laugh.
"Ok, look, it's a long story but nothing happened ok!" Ichigo explained defensively. The hand nodded it's head in agreement.
"Alright then…" Ganjyu was enjoying this. "We believe you don't we, Hyou."
"Yes." Hyou replied weakly, still stifling a laugh. "What do we do now?"
Looking down at the pair he noticed that they were lying on the screen, the same screen in which his clothes were now pinned under. "Look I'm going to stand over here and make sure you guys don't look." Ichigo was careful to keep his back to her as he walked over to her side of the spring. "Yamada-san will get up and get changed. I'll release you while I get changed. Is that alright with you Yamada-san?"
She nodded her hand in reply but Ichigo, afraid to look back, couldn't see her response. "Uh Ganjyu is it alright by Yamada-san"
Ganjyu chuckled. "Nope" Ichigo scowled, trying to think of something else. Yukino raised her middle finger at him, her hand seeming to turn red in anger. "Just kidding! She said yes." Ganjyu laughed out the honest answer.
Ichigo stepped out of the spring and stood there as a makeshift screen, arms raised level to his shoulder. "Now close your eyes guys." They did. Ichigo proceeded with his plan. "You can get changed now Yamada-san. I won't look. I promise."
The sound of water splashing into the spring told everyone she had left the water and had gone to her clothes. "Hey Ichigo, Is it just me or are you really cold?" Ganjyu laughed. Hyou, unable to keep it in anymore finally joined his friend and laughed till tears came out of his eyes.
"You better not be looking!" Ichigo threatened. Hearing this Yukino ran for her clothes and bath towel and started drying off and dressing up in record time.
"I'm joking bro! My eyes are closed" came Ganjyu's flippant reply. "But really why are you so defensive?"
End Chapter 8
(1) Sokuyoku – The execution spear thingy that turns into a phoenix that they tried to use to execute Rukia with. It stands on a cliff ledge.
A/N: For those who want to know he got exactly 15 Chappy the Bunny, 5 Yuki the Duck, 3 Papyrus the Dog, 3 Kaneshiro the Frog, 2 Gringo the Panda, 2 Blues the Monkey and 2 Ginnosuke the Cat plushies.
Thanks again to my editor Shannon for doing a really great job and for doing it so quick as well! I'm amazed.
Sorry guys long chappie. Was my perverted side coming through! LOL!!