Written for the IchiRuki: A Challenge a Day event. Theme - Isshin. Date - July 10th. Ack, I wanted to write something silly for this theme, but I ended up writing Serious!Isshin.

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When the day came to tell his father, Ichigo didn't know what he wanted to say.

With his dad, everything came and went in the same way; as a joking fit of random idiocy. Ichigo knew his father was capable of serious thought, but how would Isshin react, when presented with this news?

Ichigo would admit that he was afraid to tell him, because he didn't know what would happen. It was easy and thoughtless to slash down hollows and spar with friends. It was easy and thoughtless to face down with Kenpachi or Grimmjow, because he knew exactly what was coming at him.

This time, things were very different.

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"Are you really that afraid to tell him?" Rukia asked skeptically, crossing her arms and raising one eyebrow. She wore a classy, rich purple cocktail dress, and had pulled her dark hair up into a stylish twist.

Ichigo fidgeted with his tie, avoiding her eyes.

"There's really nothing to worry about, you know. You're father is a good man." Rukia smiled and took his elbow, leading him towards the front door of their apartment.

"I know." Ichigo said blandly, allowing himself to be dragged along. "It's just… he's so… he's such a …" He struggled to find the right words.

"A knucklehead?" She teased.

Ichigo smiled tightly. "Yeah. Yeah, I guess he is.

"That's what I'm worried about, though."

--

"Ichi-niiii! I've missed you!"

Ichigo stumbled backwards as one of his younger sisters bowled into him, hugging him tightly around the waist. She buried her face into the front of his tuxedo.

He grinned, and hugged her back. "I've missed you too, Yuzu."

"'Bought time you showed up." A monotone of a voice drawled from the top of the stairs. "'Father's' been having fits all evening waiting for you guys."

"Good to know, Karin." Ichigo suddenly remembered why he'd come here in the first place, the smile slipping from his face. Rukia squeezed his hand.

"No problem." The dark haired twin disappeared down the hallway to her room.

"I have to go to bed, soon." Yuzu murmured, disappointed. "Good night, Ichi-nii. You and Rukia-chan will be here in the morning too, right?"

"Of course."

Yuzu smiled, excited once again, before running off to follow Karin.

"Your family still seems the same." Rukia sighed, allowing her eyes to wander the space of Ichigo's kitchen. "I'm glad."

Ichigo replied, cautiously, "Me, too."

And then he led his fiancee towards the living room, where the inevitable was to occur.

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"Well, you see… uhh… The way it is, is… err… What I'm trying to say is… ehhh… umm…"

Rukia had both hands over her mouth, trying to suppress the laughter, while Ichigo was left stuttering at his slack-faced father.

"Well, you know Rukia… the way it is between… Rukia and I… uhmm… you know…"

"Know what, my son?" Isshin asked boisterously, slapping Ichigo on the back. He rose his eyebrows up and down several times. "Are you trying to tell me what I think you're trying to tell me? That you're no longer a ---"

"--- BACHELOR." Ichigo interrupted, red in the face. "That's what I'm trying to say, dad. That I am no longer a bachelor."

Rukia snorted, a mischievous look in her eyes.

"OH? OH, OH, OH?" A twinkle appeared in Isshin's eyes, and Ichigo scooted closer to where Rukia was sitting on the couch, grasping her hand.

"Well." Ichigo's father was suddenly there, kneeling in front of both of them on the floor. His face held an oddly benign expression, which his son immediately distrusted.

"No need to look so angry, my son." Isshin said softly, looking between the two of them. "You're getting married. To a lovely young woman, I might add."

Rukia discreetly nudged Ichigo in the side with an 'I-told-you-so' nudge.

"In that case," Isshin smiled, "Take with you my blessings, young Ichigo and Rukia. Take them well, and may many forms of happiness go with you over the years."

Unexpectedly, Ichigo felt a lump form in his throat. He rarely ever saw his own dad so sentimental, so calm, so… fatherly.

It was kind of strange. But it was a good kind of strange. "Thank you, Dad --- I don't know what to sa ---"

"OHO, AND MAY YOU ALSO BEAR ME MANY GRANDCHILDREN BEFORE I GROW OLD."

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